AMES, Iowa – Oct. 3, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is reporting that it plans to reopen Interstate 29 later this week from the Missouri state line to U.S. 34 (exit 32) near Pacific Junction. Portions of this section of the interstate have been closed since June 15. An announcement with the day and time of the opening will be made as soon as a more precise determination can be made. Construction and repair work is ongoing at this time.

When the road reopens, 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 Highway 333 to Hamburg; and exit 10, Iowa Highway 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.