CLEAR LAKE – A blizzard warning remains in effect for much of Northern Iowa until at least 9 am Monday morning, and Interstate 35 is closed all the way to Highway 30 at Ames.
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) are closing all lanes of Interstate 35 between Ames and Clear Lake due to hazardous winter driving conditions. The combination of prior rain on freezing pavements, snow squalls, and high wind / blizzard conditions make the roadway impassable for travel.
I-35 will be closed in both directions starting at Exit 111 at US 30 in Ames in Story County and extending to Exit 194 at US 18 westbound/Business 18 eastbound in Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County. DOT and DPS will install barriers across the freeway lanes to direct traffic off at these exits. DOT and DPS will also lower barriers at all on-ramps for interchanges in between Ames and Clear Lake.
Any vehicles already on the roadway will be allowed to continue but drivers are advised to exit and shelter. Vehicles already stopped at rest areas should remain sheltered.
The freeway closure end points are specifically aligned to allow travelers to seek shelter and traveler services such as food, lodging, and fuel in the Ames and Clear Lake/Mason City areas. For those sheltering near Ames, the Story County Emergency Management Agency maintains a list of hotels, a Red Cross shelter site, and other information on its Facebook page.
Travelers and truckers are also encouraged to seek out shelter and parking in the greater Des Moines area as facilities near Ames can fill up quickly.
Iowa DOT and DPS do not advise travelers to seek alternate non-freeway routes, as these are also likely to be hazardous and have very limited access to shelter and traveler services.
The closure will continue until conditions improve, with no specific target time. Even as conditions improve, Iowa DOT crews will need time to remove snow and ice to allow for safe travel.
Conditions across Iowa continue to be challenging for travel on all roadways. Drivers are encouraged to avoid unnecessary trips. Check Iowa 511 for roadway conditions. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide).
Earlier, a 14-vehicle crash was reported at the 42 mile marker on northbound Interstate 35. In many areas, snowplows have been pulled from the roadways until Monday.