AMES, Iowa - Major improvements are coming to Iowa highways in the next five years.
The state Transportation Commission has given initial approval to $3.6 billion for projects that include high profile upgrades on Interstate highways.
Road use tax money that fell-off during the pandemic has rebounded, and is being supported by federal relief funds.
The projects are, so far, not suffering from a shortage of construction materials that are bogging down other industries.
Upgrades coming to Iowa Interstate highways include six-lane improvements on I-35 in Polk and Story Counties (between Des Moines and Ames), I-74 Mississippi River Bridge replacement in Bettendorf, I-80 Mississippi River Bridge replacement in Le Claire, I-80/380 Interchange reconstruction near Iowa City, six-lane improvements on I-80 in Dallas and Johnson Counties, I-380/Tower Terrace interchange construction in Hiawatha, and the system reconstruction in Council Bluffs.
New to this Program is the addition of the I-380 pavement rehabilitation and widening from north of Forevergreen Road to north of Penn Street in the North Liberty area.
The Iowa Department of Transportation presented the Iowa Transportation Commission with the draft of the five year plan for transportation improvements at a meeting this week. The complete draft presentation is here.