2022 Annual Report

The I‑29/I‑480/West Broadway System Interchange Project has been under construction since spring 2021. Local road construction, demolition and bridge construction were the primary focus activities in 2022. West Broadway was realigned and opened in late spring 2022. A new road at 40th Street was opened in summer 2022. Dodge Riverside Drive was also reconstructed and opened fall 2022. The Southbound Frontage road was completed and I‑29 southbound traffic diverted to the frontage road in late 2022.

This project is anticipated to be complete in mid-2024. The reconstructed interchange will provide efficient and safe vehicle movement on I‑480 and I‑29, including reduced motorist lane changes. In addition to addressing traffic capacity needs, improving safety and correcting functional design issues, the reconstructed interchange will provide direct access to West Broadway from I‑29 via one-way frontage roads.

Iowa DOT recognizes that residents and commuters have been inconvenienced by the reconstruction efforts, especially in the neighborhoods that surround the I‑29/I‑480/West Broadway System Interchange, and thanks the Council Bluffs community for their patience during this challenging part of the project.

The Madison Avenue Interchange Reconstruction Project, the final piece of the larger interstate reconstruction program, began in September 2022. This project will rebuild the interchange and bridges over Mosquito Creek to meet current design standards and traffic capacity needs.

The new, reconstructed interchange will resemble the existing one, in a tight urban diamond formation. Four lanes will be constructed on Madison Avenue for through traffic and additional turn lanes will improve traffic capacity and safety. A new bike/pedestrian path along Madison Avenue will also be constructed as part of the project. The pedestrian/bike trail on Valley View Drive will be temporarily relocated during construction while a new, permanent one is rebuilt. Other benefits include longer acceleration lanes for vehicles merging onto I‑80, allowing drivers to turn right from Madison Avenue onto the I‑80 westbound ramp without stopping.

With COVID-19 impacting state funds, the Madison Avenue Interchange reconstruction was originally delayed to 2026. However, the 2021 Congressional Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allowed Iowa DOT to fund the project in late 2022 and begin construction.

The project is anticipated to be complete in summer 2024. The next project phase to address the westbound bridge and ramps will begin in spring/summer 2024.

Construction Coordination

Coordination remains critical to the success of the I‑29/I‑480/West Broadway System Interchange project. Construction is occurring in and next to residential areas, meaning access to homes, noise, vibration and dust are a challenge for contractors and residents. To address concerns, the team reevaluated when street closures could occur to allow demolition to happen earlier in the day or over weekends to limit the amount of noise at night.

Several residents were also heavily impacted by local road closures and driveway reconstructions this year. Efforts were made by Iowa DOT to keep them informed with timely and concise information about the construction and how they could find out more if they had questions or concerns. Iowa DOT thanks everyone for their patience this year during the reconstruction in the neighborhoods.

The construction team also coordinated closely with the City of Council Bluffs in regards to street closures and detours. Careful coordination was imperative as there were three separate contractors working on other projects directly adjacent to this project, including a Nebraska DOT project to the west. Coordination between all projects was needed to keep contractors and drivers safe throughout the area and minimize driver frustrations resulting from multiple, confusing detours.

To assist drivers, the project team coordinates with mapping agencies, such as Waze, Google and Apple, to ensure navigation services have up to date roadway closures and openings.

Traffic Concerns

With significant traffic on both interstates and the interchange, the Iowa DOT was concerned about traffic impacts during construction. The project team developed innovative staging and maintenance of traffic plans that allowed the contractor to close several interstate system ramps and mainline roadways for long periods of time. By allowing major interstate closures, reconstruction is occurring at a faster pace, reducing the anticipated construction duration from five and a half years to just over three years, and a safer work zone is provided for the contractor and the traveling public. Regional and local detours were developed to assist drivers to get where they want to go in the most efficient way.

Adaptive traffic signal technologies are in place along frontage roads and West Broadway intersections. This type of technology is rarely used within an active construction project; however, it has proven to keep traffic, including interstate traffic, moving efficiently and safely during heavy use and peak traffic periods.

Traffic is scheduled to return to I‑29, I‑480 and the interchange ramps in 2023. This interchange project is anticipated to be complete by summer 2024. Once complete, this project will change the landscape of the interchange and how drivers travel through it. The project has already provided local area access where previously it wasn’t possible. Future project efforts will focus on interstate ramps and will have less impacts to drivers and local roadways.