The early snowfall signals that Iowa’s road construction season is winding down. IPR’s Rick Fredericksen reports one of the year’s biggest projects is set for completion next week.
A $700-million budget makes this the most costly road building year in history. The massive widening project along I-35, near Iowa’s largest shopping center in West Des Moines, is set for completion next week. Mark Bortle is with the Department of Transportation.
“Essentially were changing the old two-lane each direction with a depressed grass median, into a six-lane section of interstate with a concrete barrier down the middle.”
Next year, capacity upgrades on the aging interstate system will continue in Council Bluffs and Sioux City, and advance work begins to replace Mississippi River bridges on I-74 in the Quad Cities. I’m Rick Fredericksen,Iowa Public Radio News.