Iowa Department of Transportation

Coming June 23 to an interstate exit near you!

AMES , Iowa – The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and its members (including the Iowa Department of Transportation) are sponsoring a national motor convoy that will be traveling from San Francisco , Calif. , to Washington , D.C. , during the month of June. In addition to commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System, the purpose of the convoy is to remind the public about the system's benefits and needs. This group will travel Interstate 80 in Iowa , and stop at Living History Farms for a public event June 23.

The 1950s/60s-themed “Rock'n Roads” event will be held outdoors on the lawn
near the entrance to the Living History Farms at 111 th Street and Hickman Road in Urbandale . The public is invited to join caravan participant beginning at
11 a.m. for entertainment, displays and free food (first 500 guests).

Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson will be at the event, arriving in a vintage automobile and joining the fun as she greets our guests and event goers. (She will be unable to attend the news conference.)

At 2 p.m. a news conference and brief formal program will begin, featuring representatives of the official caravan and local dignitaries.

Go back in time with the Iowa Hall of Fame Rock and Roll band, Jerry Martin and the Sounds, as they perform as the headline group of the day. Stick around for a bonus performance by Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50's.

In addition to the live entertainment, there will be exhibits and displays promoting Iowa and the impact that development of the Interstate Highway System has had on our state and country. The displays will include vintage automobiles and road building equipment.

Sponsors for the event include the Iowa Department of Transportation, Living History Farms, Iowa Concrete Paving Association, Associated General Contractors of Iowa, AAA Minnesota/Iowa, 3M, Jerry Martin and the Sounds, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, Iowa departments of Economic Development and Public Safety, Iowa Highway Patrol, Werner Enterprises, Motor Ioway and Firestone.

You can follow the stops along the caravan route from June 16 – 29 as the National League of Cities provides Web casts of each caravan stop at www.NCNTV.org . The Web casts will include information on the transportation needs of that specific city, and also support Operation Interdependence, a civilian-to-military distribution system with volunteers who will be collecting care packages and providing a communication vehicle to troops overseas from each caravan stop during the Web casts.

Visit www.iowainterstate50th.com for more information.

News Release