The Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program recently released its annual report highlighting progress made on construction and design projects.
“The program was very busy over the last year working toward opening the dual, divided freeway and completing the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over I-29,” Scott Schram, Iowa DOT District 4 engineer, said. “The program’s annual report provides a high-level overview of all of the work that occurred in 2019 and provides a summary of how the Iowa DOT is delivering this important highway improvement project.”
In 2019, four interchanges, eight interstate centerline miles, 25 bridges, and 94 highway lane miles were completed. Several others were planned.
The reconstruction of the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge was completed, increasing capacity on I-29. Iowa DOT raised speed limits in the area, following the completion, to 65 miles per hour.
The construction along the overlapping segments of Interstates 80 and 29 through Council Bluffs also was completed. The project improves traffic flow and safety along a three-mile corridor. The project is the region’s first dual, divided freeway, separating Interstate through-traffic from local traffic.
The report also outlines information on statistics for work completed, program status, public outreach, and a preview of 2020 activities.