I-80 to close for setting of bridge beams at the
I-35/235 NE mixmaster interchange

Ames , Iowa - Feb. 28, 2007 – Late-night travelers coming to Des Moines for the girls and boys state basketball tournaments in March need to be aware of a major road closure on Interstate 80.

Beginning with the eastbound lanes, I-80 at I-35/235 in the area referred to as the northeast mixmaster north of Des Moines will be closed during the overnight hours starting March 7 to set bridge beams, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation's District 1 Office. Once the contractor has completed work on the eastbound lanes (estimated to be approximately two weeks), the westbound lanes will be closed to begin work in that area.

Weather permitting, traffic on I-80 will be detoured each weeknight from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and weekend nights from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. to accomplish this overhead work. Detours may continue each night for up to two weeks in either direction depending on weather and contractor productivity.

During the first phase of construction, eastbound I-80 and northbound I-35 traffic will be diverted to I-235. Local traffic not using the diversion route will be directed off of I-80/I-35 at U.S. 69 ( NE 14th St. ) south to U.S. 6 ( Euclid Ave. ) and east to I-235.

Once the eastbound construction is complete, westbound I-80 traffic intended for southbound I-35 ( Kansas City ) will be diverted to U.S. 65/Iowa 5 on the south side of Des Moines . Other westbound I-80 traffic at the mixmaster will go north on I-35 to Corporate Woods Road (Ankeny), then back south on I-35 to I-80 or I-235 depending on destination.

For maps of the routes and a complete listing of work underway on I-235 in Des Moines , go to www.i235.com.

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Contact: Bill Lusher, Iowa DOT, District 1 Office, 515-237-3300 or william.lusher@dot.iowa.gov.