NEWS RELEASES

Schedule adjusted for closure of I-80
at I-35/235 NE mixmaster interchange

Ames , Iowa – March 13, 2007 – Weather delays and changes to material delivery schedules have caused the timing of closures on Interstate 80 to be adjusted.

The overnight closure of eastbound I-80 at I-35/235 in the area referred to as the northeast mixmaster north of Des Moines began earlier this week and will continue through Wednesday night, March 14, for crews to set bridge beams. The Iowa Department of Transportation's District 1 Office expects eastbound closures will be suspended after Wednesday, but anticipates the closures to resume in late March as materials are delivered.

Beginning Thursday night, March 15, the westbound lanes of I-80 will be closed overnight. These closures are anticipated to continue from Thursday night until Sunday night, March 18. Additional westbound I-80 closures are expected in April as materials are delivered.

During these closures, 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.

Eastbound closures on I-80 will cause eastbound I-80 and northbound I-35 traffic to 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.

Westbound I-80 closures will force traffic intended for southbound
I-35 (Kansas City) to 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.

Interstate 80 closure schedules are subject to change due to weather and availability of materials. For the most up-to-date information, go to www.i235.com/alerts.htm.

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