AMES, Iowa – June 13, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is extending a temporary flood barrier around the south side of Hamburg to include a portion of Interstate 29. 

An approximate half-mile stretch of flood barrier will be placed on the shoulder of northbound I-29 between mileposts 0.4 and 0.9. This will require closure of the right lane of northbound I-29 at this location as the barrier is installed. The USACE will be using temporary barrier devices not commonly seen in Iowa. They were last used in the state during the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa. The devices are called Concertainers, produced by HESCO Bastion USA in Hammond, La. A Concertainer© is a galvanized, welded mesh (cage-like) container lined with heavy-duty fabric that is filled with locally available material such as sand, gravel or soil using a front-end loader.

These units expedite flood-protection work by eliminating the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of filling individual sandbags. When filled and connected, the Concertainer units create a sturdy barrier wall. Earlier today, the USACE levee located in Atchison County, Mo., breached and flood waters are expected to impact I-29 and Iowa 333 within the next 48 hours. There is no immediate threat to the roads.