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 2016
Program Goals
Modernize 18 miles of interstate
Accomodate planned development along the corridors
Reduce traffic congestion
Improve the visual landscape
2016 Progress
BRIDGES
INTERCHANGES
INTERSTATE
(miles)
HIGHWAY
(lane miles)
2016 Snapshot
Active Projects in 2016
MORE INFO
LONG-TERM STRATEGY Program construction started in 2008 and is expected to continue through 2024. Numerous projects will be constructed to complete the overall program vision. Individual projects are being grouped strategically to maximize improvements while minimizing construction impacts to Council Bluffs residents and the traveling public.
IMPROVED SAFETY A key goal of the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is to increase safety on the interstate in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area. By eliminating several at-grade railroad crossings with the Railroad Consolidation project, roadway/railroad conflicts will be decreased and safety will be improved in those areas. Roadway conflicts on I-29 northbound were also reduced this year when the new I-80 westbound/I-29 northbound to I-29 northbound ramp was opened. The new ramp shifted traffic into a safer configuration for merging I-80 eastbound to I-29 northbound motorists.
RELATED WORK
Traffic Incident Management
In the Council Bluffs/Omaha metro area, a team of professionals work together to clear traffic incidents safely and quickly. Emergency responders are the heroes of our highways and roadways, with an organized plan to keep the traveling public moving and save lives every day. This coordination is called Traffic Incident Management (TIM). A TIM working group for the area meets regularly to improve the coordination of incident management efforts and discuss related topics, share the lessons learned from reviewing past incidents, and develop improved processes. This group also collaboratively maintains and updates a TIM Plan which includes alternate routes, messaging, contacts, and roles and responsibilities of area responders. A public outreach campaign was launched in fall 2016 to increase TIM awareness and communicate the role of the traveling public. More information can be found at www.TheHighwayHeroes.org.
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.
2016 Project Spotlight
I-29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 Interchange
After two years of dust, ramp closures, and traffic shifts, construction of the U.S. 275/Iowa 92 interchange was nearly completed in 2016. In late fall, traffic returned to full capacity on U.S. 275/Iowa 92 and the northbound and southbound off ramp reconstruction was completed.
Construction of this interchange, which began in June 2014, involves raising I-29 and U.S. 275/Iowa 92 to accommodate the new railroad corridor for the Railroad Consolidation project. Improvements include new roadway embankments, a walking trail, and the reconstruction of six bridge structures.
During the project, Program staff are working hard to inform the public about construction impacts and partnered with local schools, churches and businesses to spread information about detours and closures. Coordination with the City of Council Bluffs and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also been key in making sure the project is completed within the allotted time.
Public Outreach
In The Community
An elected officials briefing and public meeting was held in March to inform the community about 2016 construction activities and preliminary routes for the I-29/I-480/West Broadway Interchange.
1 Stakeholder Meeting
Program meetings were held with elected officials, local businesses/stakeholders, and the general public during 2016. This included a pre-construction season public meeting at the Program office in March 2016.
Students enrolled in Gateway to Engineering at Saint Albert High School were given an up close look at construction for the East System Interchange.
12 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.
Online Engagement in 2016
43,474
Pageviews
14,944
Visitors
832
Visitors
354
Followers
919
Posts
162,446
Impressions
22
Traffic alert emails sent to emergency responders
360
Followers
908
Tweets
153,561
Impressions
411
Members
28%
Growth in 2016
Program Status
The Iowa Transportation Commission and Iowa DOT recognizes that the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program is the largest interstate highway funding effort in the state’s history. To successfully implement this Program, the Iowa DOT will look for all opportunities to effectively and efficiently turn this significant commitment of resources into successful delivery of highway improvement projects.
DOLLARS ALLOCATED PER YEAR
- 2016 (Awarded)
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- $200M
- $150M
- $100M
- $50M
- $0M
Projects Let
Money Spent
Highway Improvement Projects
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge
Planned Construction Dates:
9/2017-11/2019
Nebraska Ave Interchange
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2019-9/2021
I-80/I-29 Dual, Divided Freeway - Phase II
Planned Construction Dates:
12/2016-5/2019
West System Interchange - Phase II
Planned Construction Dates:
6/2015-5/2017
East System Interchange - Phase IIb
Planned Construction Dates:
5/2016-6/2018
Madison Ave Interchange
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2021-5/2024
I-80/I-29 Dual, Divided Freeway - Phase III
Planned Construction Dates:
8/2019-6/2021
East System Interchange - Phase II
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2017-6/2020
East System Interchange - Phase IIa
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2015-6/2018
I-29/I-480/West Broadway
Planned Construction Dates:
11/2019-11/2023
I-29 & US 275/Iowa 92 -
Phase I & II
Planned Construction Dates:
6/2014-5/2017
Railroad Consolidation
Planned Construction Dates:
10/2015-1/2017
Railroad Consolidation
Planned Construction Dates:
10/2015-1/2017
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 2016.
Utilities
Utility types to be cleared (removed or relocated) for highway construction.
 |
341,409 linear feet of utilities impacted |
 |
Over 1,600 utility conflicts |
 |
$12.3M 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. As determined in the Tier I Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), direct access to West Broadway from I-29 via one-way frontage roads will be provided.
Iowa DOT is currently 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. Studies and the preliminary design will be complete in early 2017. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2019.
Another future project addressed in the Tier I Final EIS is extending I-80 improvements northeast of Madison Avenue Interchange to east of the U.S. 6/Kanesville Boulevard Interchange. Funding sources and schedule for this project have not yet been determined.
Active Projects in 2017
Interstate System
Improvement Program
2017 Key Projects
In 2017 the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program will continue making progress on reconstruction of I-80, I-29 and I-480 in the Council Bluffs/ Omaha metropolitan area. Construction will potentially impact travel, as well as local businesses at interchanges that will be under construction.
The majority of the construction occurring in 2017 will be at the two system interchanges, and along the I-80/I-29 eastbound mainline. The second phase of the West System Interchange will be completed in the spring. Construction crews expect to shift traffic at the East System Interchange late in the year when the Phase II work nears completion.
2017 Project Spotlight
East System Interchange
The East System Interchange project is the largest project let to-date for the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvement Program. Phase IIa construction began in late 2015, and is anticipated to be complete in late 2017 or early 2018. This project has many complexities and requires coordinating with various railroads and other stakeholders. Phase IIb began in June 2016 and includes the I-80 westbound/I-29 northbound lanes and bridges over South Expressway. This is a key transportation corridor in the area that will require coordination with businesses, residents, motorists, and other stakeholders when ramp closures occur in late 2017. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2018.
