AMES, Iowa – June 10, 2011 – 8:30 p.m. – Flooding from the Missouri River is beginning to impact additional roads in western Iowa as water levels continue to rise. Roads impacted by flooding are expected to be closed for an extended period of time. Iowans are urged to closely monitor conditions and never enter a water-covered roadway. Flood waters can force a vehicle off the roadway. In addition, it is not uncommon for roadways and shoulders to be damaged when flooded, presenting unsafe conditions for motorists.

Current road closures/restrictions:
•I-29 Hamilton Boulevard interchange in Woodbury County: The I-29 interchange ramps at Hamilton Boulevard in Sioux City are closed.

•I-29 in Pottawattamie County: The south- and northbound lanes of I-29 between milepost 61 (near Crescent) and the I-29/I-680 interchange at milepost 71 (near Loveland) are closed.

•I-680 in Pottawattamie County: I-680 is closed from the I-29/680 interchange (exit 61 near Crescent) in Iowa to North 30th Street in Omaha, Nebr. (exit 13). This closure includes the Mormon Bridge across the Missouri River. The Iowa detour route for interstate roadways closed in this vicinity is: I-680 east from the I-29/I-680 interchange near Loveland to I-80, and then take I-80 southwest to Council Bluffs. Eastbound travelers on I-680 in Omaha that are intending to travel to Iowa must exit at North 30th Street (exit 13), continue south on North 30th Street to U.S. 75/I-480, and then continue south on I-480 to I-80 eastbound.

•Iowa 2 in Fremont County: The right lane of eastbound Iowa 2 is closed west of I-29. The westbound lanes remain open. The speed limit will be reduced on this highway to assist travelers safely navigate through the area.

Highway segments at high risk of being closed due to flooding:
(Please note that several updates have been made to the list below. Some roads previously listed as “being monitored” have been reclassified as “high risk of closure.”)
•I-29 near Blencoe: Two segments of I-29 are at risk of being impacted by flood waters in this area: (1) near milepost 103.5 south of Blencoe; and (2) near milepost 107 north of Blencoe.
•I-29 and U.S. 30 near Missouri Valley: Locally sponsored agricultural levees provide some measure of protection for this area. Three highway segments are at most risk in this area: (1) U.S. 30 west of I-29 between mileposts 7 and 8; (2) U.S. 30 east of I-29 between mileposts 9 and 10; and (3) I-29 between mileposts 77 and 78.

•NEW: I-29/I-680 interchange between mileposts 71-72 near Loveland: This interchange is presently part of the I-29 detour. It is expected to be covered with flood waters. A loss of this interchange will significantly impact I-29 travel along the entire highway corridor because it currently serves as a connector between the northern and southern portions of the route. The extent of the traffic impact on the multistate region is yet to be determined. It is dependent on what other Missouri River bridges and roadway segments along the corridor are eventually closed due to
flooding.

•I-29 from milepost 55 (25th Street at the north edge of Council Bluffs) to the I-29/680 interchange, exit 61 (near Crescent): Northbound travel is currently being allowed in this section. Both lanes of travel are expected to eventually be covered with flood waters.

•I-29, U.S. 275 and Iowa 333 at Hamburg in Fremont County: Temporary repairs have been made to the levee in Atchison County, Mo., to delay a full breach. The timing of the closure of these roadways hinges on a full breach.
•Iowa 127 near Mondamin: The segments most at risk of flooding are located east and west of Mondamin, near mileposts 0.8 and 1.5.

•Iowa 175 near Onawa: The segment most at risk of flooding is west of I-29 near the Missouri River. This route serves as the river crossing between Onawa, Iowa, and Decatur, Nebr.

•Iowa 376 (U.S. 75 Business): The roadway from Gordon Drive to Third Street in Sioux City is expected to close.

Undergoing further evaluation or being monitored:
•I-29, in Sioux City at the U.S. 77/Wesley Parkway underpass, exit 147B (known locally as the Downtown/Tyson Event Center exit)

•I-29, from south of Bellevue (milepost 39) to Hamburg (milepost 1): This area is at a lesser risk, but would be inundated if the levee is breached or overtopped.

For traveler assistance, call the Iowa DOT’s flood information call center 866-452-8510 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
For current updates on road conditions – 24 hours a day, visit www.511ia.org or call 511 (in Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside of the state).
For all of the Iowa DOT’s flood-related information, visit http://www.iowadot.gov/ and click on the “Flooding Ahead” sign. You can also follow the Iowa DOT on Twitter
at http://twitter.com/#!/iowadot/.