The Iowa Department of Transportation has spent more money on road construction in 2013 than in past years. Mark Bortle, with the D-O-T, says the department typically spends 400 to 500 million dollars annually, but this year’s projects are a bit bigger. “As of the end of October, we’ve spent $523 million,” Bortle said. Much of the money is being spent on major projects in western Iowa. “Probably the biggest ones are in the Council Bluffs and Sioux City areas as we continue to rebuild and rehabilitate the interstate system in those two areas,” Bortle said. Those two projects are far from being completed.

“Those are multi-year, multi-faceted projects,” Bortle said. “We’re going to be out there for a long time to get that work completed.” The D-O-T will have road crews and equipment off the roads before the first major snowfall, according to Bortle. He said motorists can expect a few delays in their holiday travels due to construction. Details of those projects are available at www.511ia.org.

(Radio Iowa)