NEWS RELEASES

Contact: Douglas McDonald, 641-752-4657

Interchange improvements at east mixmaster will close I-80 ramp Aug. 5

DES MOINES, Iowa - Aug. 1, 2006 - Interchange improvements will begin this week at the Interstate 80/35/235 interchange on the northeast side of Des Moines, according to Iowa Department of Transportation officials. To accomodate replacement of an existing bridge, the eastbound I-80 to southbound I-235 exit ramp will be closed at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. This ramp will remain closed until spring 2007. The suggested alternate exit is E. 14th Street south to Euclid, then east to I-235.

Improvements to the interchange will include replacement of two existing bridges, building new bridges, and constructing new north/south lanes through the center of the interchange to connect I-35 to I-235. Exit and entrance ramps will also be reconstructed. See image below for new alignments.

The prime contractor on the $21.8 million project's first phase is Des Moines Asphalt and Paving. A second contract will be let in Sept. 2006 for building the new bridges. The major portions of the project are scheduled to be completed by the end of construction season 2007. There will be some additional bridge deck replacement work on the remaining bridges in the interchange after 2007.

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