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Iowa DOT cautions travelers about work zones over Labor Day holiday

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 23, 2012 – Travel during the upcoming Labor Day holiday may be slowed by road construction, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Several projects on Iowa’s interstate and state roadways may warrant advance planning on the part of drivers.

Central Iowa
·         Construction of a new bridge on Iowa 4 in Jefferson over the Union Pacific Railroad Co.’s property is in progress. Iowa 4 is closed between Reed Street and Central Avenue. Traffic is under detour using city streets in the immediate vicinity of the work.
·         Westbound U.S. 20 traffic between Iowa 17 and U.S. 69 in Hamilton County is in a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the eastbound lanes to accommodate reconstruction of the westbound pavement.
·         Bridge repair on U.S. 30 just west of Nevada has restricted the roadway to one lane in each direction.

North central/Northeast Iowa
·         Bridge repair work is underway on eastbound Iowa 57 over the Cedar River overflow in Cedar Falls. Traffic is reduced to one lane through the work area. The eastbound Iowa 57 to northbound U.S. 218/Iowa 27 ramp is also closed. A signed detour is in place for the ramp closure.
·         An interchange project on U.S. 218 at Janesville has restricted southbound traffic to one lane. Both south- and northbound traffic is controlled by temporary traffic signals at the intersection of U.S. 218 and Marquis Road/Seventh Street. Bremer County Road C-50/Barrick Road is closed. Access to Janesville is via Marquis Road/Seventh Street.
·         Motorists travelling on U.S. 63 from just north of Denver to just south of the junction of U.S. 63 and Iowa 188 will encounter a two-way, two-lane traffic pattern.
·         Pavement reconstruction of 6.5 miles of southbound Interstate 380 between the east and west interchanges of I-380 and U.S. 20 in Waterloo has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction.
·         Bridge repair on I-35 at milepost 155 has restricted traffic to one lane in each direction.
·         Resurfacing of Iowa 122 at the east edge of Mason City requires a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern between Illinois and California Avenues.
·         Bridge repair work at two bridges on U.S. 169 between Humboldt and St. Joseph has traffic restricted to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals at the two locations.
·         Traffic on Iowa 13 in Strawberry Point is restricted to a single lane for pavement reconstruction. Traffic is controlled by temporary signals.

Northwest Iowa
·         Pavement reconstruction of southbound I-29 from I-129 to Sergeant Bluff has traffic placed in a two-lane, two-way pattern in the northbound lanes between mileposts 141 and 144.
·         Pavement reconstruction of I-29 in Sioux City, near the Iowa 12 (Riverside Boulevard) interchange, has traffic restricted to two lanes in each direction for the two miles adjacent to the South Dakota border.
·         Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 77 in Sioux City has traffic restricted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the northbound lanes of U.S. 77 over I-29.
·         Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County has traffic restricted to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
·         Pavement resurfacing on U.S. 71 between Spencer and Milford has traffic placed in a two-lane, two-way pattern in the southbound lanes.

Southwest Iowa
·         Staged bridge construction on U.S. 30 northeast of Woodbine in Harrison County has traffic restricted to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
·         A bridge deck overlay on U.S. 71 south of Atlantic in Cass County has traffic restricted to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.

South central/Southeast Iowa
·         Bridge replacement projects over the Squaw and South Squaw rivers has closed northbound I-35 in Clarke County, from just north of Iowa 152 to just north of Squaw Creek. Traffic is in a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the southbound lanes.
·         Bridge deck overlay work on Iowa 92, just east of Delta in Keokuk County, will cause traffic to be detoured beginning Aug. 27. Motorists should follow the marked detour.
·         Bridge repair work on U.S. 63 south of New Sharon has restricted traffic to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
·         Bridge repair on the Iowa River bridge on Iowa 92 at Columbus Junction has traffic restricted to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
·         Placement of asphalt shoulders on U.S. 218/Iowa 27 in Henry County from Iowa 78 to Iowa Avenue has traffic restricted to one lane in each direction.
·         Road reconstruction on U.S. 61 in Lee County from just north of Lee County Road X-38 to just north of 180th Street has traffic restricted to one lane in each direction.

Eastern Iowa
·         Pavement reconstruction on I-80 in Iowa City between mileposts 244 and 248 has traffic shifted onto the median and eastbound lanes to accommodate paving operations on the westbound lanes. Two 12-foot wide lanes are available in each direction with narrow shoulders and temporary barrier rail. Eastbound truck traffic is being directed to use the inside lane. All ramps remain open to traffic.
·         Bridge repairs on I-380 from the I-80 interchange north 1.5 miles are restricting lane widths in both directions. Traffic is being shifted to two 10-foot wide lanes in each direction.
·         Pavement reconstruction on eastbound I-280 in Davenport has closed the eastbound lanes between mileposts 1.6 and 8.5. Traffic is being maintained in a two-lane, two-way pattern on the westbound lanes. A 12-foot wide lane is available in each direction. All ramps remain open to traffic.
·         Reconstruction of U.S. 30/U.S. 67 in Clinton has traffic in a two-lane, two-way pattern between 14th Street and 25th Place. A 12-foot wide lane is available in each direction. Westbound traffic on Camanche Avenue is being maintained on two 12-foot wide lanes between South Fifth Street and 25th Place. Side streets 18th Place, 21st Place, 25th Place and Barker Street are closed at Camanche Avenue.

There are many other ongoing construction and maintenance projects affecting traffic on state, county and local road systems. Details of all current Iowa DOT construction projects can be found at www.511ia.org.

Tips for driving safely in work zones
·         Expect the unexpected. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working on or near the road.
·         Slow down and do not tailgate. Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead. The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear-end collision.
·         Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and road workers and their equipment.
·         Pay attention to the signs. Warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that reads “End Road Work.”
·         Obey flaggers. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign; so, you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions.
·         Stay alert and minimize distractions. Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and avoid changing radio stations, using cell phones, texting or other distractions while driving in a work zone. Texting while driving is illegal in Iowa.
·         Keep up with the traffic flow. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Do not drive right up to the lane closure and then try to merge.
·         Be patient and stay calm. Work zones are not there to inconvenience travelers. Remember, road workers are improving the road for your use.
·         Watch for persons wearing high visibility (HiViz) apparel. All persons are required by federal law to wear HiViz apparel when in highway work zones.
·         Prepare for your trip to take a little more time. Check radio, TV or websites (www.511ia.org), call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide), or stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter at www.iowadot.com/511/socialmedia.html, or on your mobile phone.
·         Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time.
·         Be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones.
·         Buckle up. Iowa law requires all persons to be buckled up in the front seat and all persons under age 18 to be buckled up, regardless of vehicle seating position.

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