Program Overview
Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs/Omaha metropolitan area.
This comprehensive interstate redesign, known as the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program, will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety in the area. The Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is the single largest endeavor in Iowa DOT’s five-year Transportation Improvement Program.
A look at 2015
Program Goals
Modernize 18 miles of interstate
Accomodate planned development along the corridors
Reduce traffic congestion
Improve the visual landscape
2015 Progress
BRIDGES
INTERCHANGES
INTERSTATE
(miles)
HIGHWAY
(lane miles)
2015 Snapshot
Active Projects in 2015
MORE INFO
LONG-TERM STRATEGY Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program construction started in 2008 and is ongoing. Numerous projects will be constructed to fully implement the complete vision of the improvement program over the next seven to 10 years. Individual projects are being strategically grouped and completed to maximize improvements to the system while simultaneously minimizing the impacts of construction to Council Bluffs residents and the traveling public.
EXPANDING CAPACITY A key goal of the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is to reduce traffic congestion in the Council Bluffs/Omaha metro. An area that was impacted almost daily during both the morning and evening commute was the westbound lanes of I-80/I-29 west of the South Expressway Interchange. In fall of 2015, the Program increased capacity by adding an additional lane for traffic. By increasing the lanes from two to three mainline travel lanes, congestion is reduced and there are less vehicle delays during peak times.
RELATED WORK
Intelligent Traffic System, Adaptive Traffic Management Systems
Iowa DOT is not only improving the roads and bridges around Council Bluffs, but technology is also being added to improve traffic flow, respond faster to traffic conditions and improve customer satisfaction. Over the next six years, approximately 14 new dynamic message signs, 35 cameras and nearly six miles of fiber optic cable will be added to the interstate system to allow Iowa DOT to monitor traffic conditions and get timely traffic information to the traveling public. An adaptive traffic signal system has also been implemented along South Expressway from 23rd Avenue to 32nd Avenue. The technology allows traffic signals to adjust the timing of red, yellow and green lights automatically and adapt to changing traffic patterns, which improves traffic flow and safety along this segment of South Expressway.
Program Highlights
The construction projects below were prioritized based on the highest volume of vehicles and benefits in terms of traffic management, improved safety and increased vehicle capacity in the urban area of the interstate system.
The Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program has identified several future projects that are necessary to satisfy the overall goals of the Program.
2015 Project Spotlight
I-29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 Interchange
The I-29/U.S. 275/Iowa 92 Interchange reconstruction reached an important milestone in 2015 by completing the U.S. 275/Iowa 92 westbound bridges and pavement and opening them to traffic. Construction crews are currently rebuilding the eastbound bridges and adjoining pavement. The I-29 northbound lanes, entrance and exit ramps at this interchange are in the process of being reconstructed, and northbound I-29 and entrance ramp was shifted to the new bridge and pavement in late 2015.
Stakeholder coordination with the City of Council Bluffs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was key in helping the project stay on schedule in coordinating levee concerns and access.
Construction of the I-29/U.S. 275/ Iowa 92 Interchange will be completed in 2017.
Public Outreach
In The Community
= 25 People
A public meeting was held in April to inform the community about 2015 construction activities.
6 Stakeholder Meetings
The Program held Stakeholder meetings with Elected Officials, neighborhood groups, and the general public during 2015. This included a 2015 Pre-Construction Season Public Meeting at the Program office in April 2015.
231 Attendees
Staff attended community events, such as Celebrate CB to educate the public about the program.
1 Community Event
The Program hosted a booth at the Celebrate CB parade to provide public information about the Program.
150 Attendees
Staff providing a construction area tour to students enrolled in Gateway to Engineering at St Albert High School.
17 Guest Speaker Presentations
The Program responded to numerous requests to speak at civic group meetings and other venues to inform interested stakeholders of the Program and answer their questions in 2015.
1,060 Attendees
Online Engagement in 2015
= 25 = 250 = 2,500
WEBSITE
49,050 Pageviews
16,500 Visitors
ONLINE MEETING
300 Visitors
Pre-Construction Meeting
FACEBOOK
223 Followers
1,180 Posts
82,000 Impressions
TWITTER
258 Followers
970 Tweets
177,650 Impressions
MAILING LIST
322 Members
11% Growth in 2015
ALERTS
44 traffic alert emails sent to Emergency Responders
Program Status
The Iowa Transportation Commission and DOT recognizes that the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is the largest interstate highway funding effort in the state’s history.
DOLLARS ALLOCATED PER YEAR
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- $200M
- $150M
- $100M
- $50M
- $0M
Projects Let
Money Spent
Highway Improvement Projects
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2016-10/2018
Nebraska Ave Interchange
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2019-09/2021
West System Interchange - Phase II
Planned Construction Dates:
06/2015-05/2017
I-80/I-29 Dual, Divided Freeway - Phase II
Planned Construction Dates:
12/2016-08/2018
East System Interchange - Phase IIb
Planned Construction Dates:
05/2016-03/2018
I-80/I-29 Dual, Divided Freeway - Phase I
Planned Construction Dates:
06/2013-07/2015
East System Interchange - Phase I
Planned Construction Dates:
07/2014-12/2015
I-80/I-29 Dual, Divided Freeway - Phase III
Planned Construction Dates:
07/2019-08/2021
East System Interchange - Phase III
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2017-05/2020
East System Interchange - Phase IIa
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2015-07/2018
Madison Ave Interchange
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2019-03/2022
I-29 & US 275/Iowa 92 -
Phase I & II
Planned Construction Dates:
06/2014-05/2017
Railroad Consolidation
Planned Construction Dates:
10/2015-01/2017
Railroad Consolidation
Planned Construction Dates:
10/2015-01/2017
By the Numbers
The Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program has been active since 2008. The statistics on this page give a snapshot of the magnitude of work completed in 2015.
Utilities
Utility types to be cleared (removed or relocated) for highway construction.
 |
291,200 linear feet of utilities impacted |
 |
Over 1,400 utility conflicts |
 |
$9.3M spent to-date by Iowa DOT to relocate utilities |
Moving Forward
Future projects include construction on I-29 north of the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge to a point just west of 25th Street. Currently, the plans for this project include the I-29/I-480/West Broadway system interchange and interchanges at 41st Street, Avenue G, and Ninth Avenue. Two concepts are under consideration for these project improvements. Both concepts provide direct access to West Broadway from I-29 via one-way frontage roads as determined in the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Iowa DOT is currently conducting a review of the Tier I Final EIS in addition to conducting the Tier II environmental studies, which includes environmental field surveys and conceptual design. The environmental studies will identify a single Preferred Alternative that will be carried through design of the new interchange and interstate system. Construction is anticipated to begin in Fiscal Year 2020. Funding sources have not been determined at this time, and will be considered in Iowa DOT’s next five-year Transportation Improvement Program update in 2016.
Another future project addressed in the Tier 1 Final EIS is extending I-80 improvements northeast of the Madison Avenue interchange to east of the U.S. 6/Kanesville Boulevard interchange.
Active Projects in 2016
Interstate System
Improvement Program
2016 Key Projects
Click each project below to view more information.
2016 Project Spotlight
East System Interchange - Phase IIa
The East System Interchange, Phase IIa project is the largest project let to-date for the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program. The project includes the area of I-80 immediately east of South Expressway/Iowa 192 and continues to a point southwest of the Madison Avenue interchange. The area also includes I-29 from north of U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange to just east of South Expressway/Iowa 192. This project has many complexities and requires coordinating with various railroads and other stakeholders. The project includes three large bridges totaling over 8,200 feet in length.
