News Release

Nov. 6 , 2007

I-29/I-80 improvement project starts in Council Bluffs

ATLANTIC, Iowa – Work began this week on the I-29/I-80 improvement project in Council Bluffs, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (Iowa DOT) District Office in Atlantic.

The $12.6 million project is the first Council Bluffs Interstate System (CBIS) improvement project and includes work to replace the 24th Street bridge over
I-29/I-80. The reconstructed bridge will be longer to allow the future I-29/I-80 lanes to pass underneath it.
 
The project was awarded to Cramer and Associates Inc. of Grimes. The contractor started working earlier this week on some preliminary items required prior to the reconstruction, including:

• Grading and paving in the median to accommodate shifting traffic necessary to construct the mid-span pier.
  
  
• Widening of ramps to accommodate two lanes of traffic needed for the nighttime closures of the I-29/I-80 interstate traffic.
  
  
• Grading and laying of temporary pavement for the staged construction of 24th Street.

This week westbound traffic will be shifted onto the outside shoulder so work can be done in the median. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained throughout the winter.

As the project progresses into next spring and summer, there will be nighttime closures of the interstate. The closures are needed to protect motorists while the contractor removes the current bridge and sets new beams and deck panels. During the closures, two lanes of traffic in each direction will be routed onto the ramps at the 24th Street interchange. 

Information regarding the Council Bluffs Interstate System and 24th Street project is available at www.cbinterstate.com. Construction information regarding this and other CBIS projects will be added as the project progresses.

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