AMES, Iowa – June 24, 2011 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will be implementing flood mitigation measures along Iowa 175 to help keep the road open as long as possible. This road is an important transportation connection between Onawa, Iowa, and Decatur, Neb., as well as other communities along the Interstate 29 corridor. The success of these mitigation strategies remains dependent on the level of continued rising river and ground water levels. They are being deployed at this time due to the increased release of water by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is projected to raise river water elevations from .5 to 1 foot. Those levels would cause inundation of portions of the roadway. Preliminary sandbagging will be performed this weekend along the shoulders of the roadway in lower-lying areas. Starting Monday, additional measures will be taken to address a rise in river water levels of up to 1 foot. If water levels exceed 1 foot, conditions will be created within the overall basin area that will make it impossible to contain the water and keep the roadway open. In that event, the roadway will be closed. An additional benefit of these mitigation strategies is the fact that it may allow the roadway to be reopened sooner, if closed. Next week, contractor employees will be placing sandbags and concrete barrier wall along the west side of Cashew Avenue. In addition, sandbags and barrier wall will be placed along the north side of Iowa 175. The lowest-lying areas will be the target of the sandbagging effort. The Iowa DOT has already strengthened the shoulders of the north side of Iowa 175 at certain locations to help mitigate damage to the roadway surface.