The Iowa Department of Transportation said today (Friday) plans are in-place to reopen Interstate 29 at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 8th, from the Missouri state line to U.S. 34 (exit 32) near Pacific Junction. Interstate 29 in southwest Iowa has been closed since June 15th due to flooding from the Missouri River. Heavy traffic and congestion is expected on I-29 around the reopening time. To help minimize this congestion and allow for safe restarting of traffic flow, the Iowa DOT asks that vehicles not park on the interstate while waiting for the road to reopen. Please give yourself some extra time before starting out on your trip through the area after the barricades are removed.

Temporary lane crossovers will be in place at mileposts 0.8 northbound and 3.2 southbound, near Hamburg. Two-way traffic conditions will be present between the crossovers and diverted into the southbound lanes. The crossovers are necessary until repairs can be completed to the embankment of the northbound bridge, which was damaged during the flooding.   Exit 1, Iowa 333 to Hamburg; and exit 10, Iowa 2 to Nebraska City, will remain closed after I-29 reopens. Iowa 333 has sustained flood damage; and now that the water has receded, the Iowa DOT will be able to perform a more thorough assessment of the roadway. Iowa 2 sustained substantial damage due to the flooding and must be repaired. The goal is to restore traffic on these roadways as quickly as possible. U.S. 34 under I-29 to Pacific Junction, which has been closed for bridge construction, has also reopened to traffic. 

If you encounter a road closed sign, fence, gate or other traffic control device, turn around. Do not move the barricades or enter a closed roadway. Not only is it illegal, these roads are unsafe for travel.  For the latest updates on the Iowa DOT’s “fast-track” flood recovery efforts, photos of damaged roads and recovery work, and information about roads still closed due to flooding or flood damage, visit: http://www.iowadot.gov/floods/index.html