AMES, Iowa — Summer 2025 is almost here, but it’s already road construction season. The big project is the Hickman Road Interchange, with ramps closed and access to Interstate 35/80 limited.

There are many other projects people should be aware of, according to Scott Nixon, the Iowa DOT District One Engineer.

“One is the expansion of Interstate 80 from the northeast Mix Master out to Altoona,” said Nixon. “That project is in the first year of a multi-year project. We’re in the first year now building new lanes in the westbound. Next year we will jump over to eastbound and reconstruct those.”

That stretch of I-80 will be four lanes running from the Mix Master, to Altoona. Another project is the expansion of I-35 to six lanes from north of 36th street in Ankeny to just past the Highway 210 interchange in Story County.

“We’re in our third year building those southbound lanes, we should have traffic shifted onto the southbound lane sometime this summer,” said Nixon. “We have some more work to do in the median area, and then next year we will have the northbound lanes reconstructed.”

Nixon said the Highway 210/I-35 Interchange will be rebuilt and opened later on this year.

Another area of work is Ankeny Blvd., or Highway 69, on the north edge of Ankeny. The southbound lanes are being rebuilt, and traffic is down to one lane each way.

“We know, currently, we have traffic down to one lane in each direction while we replace the west side basically,” said Nixon. “We will build the two lanes on the west side and then we’ll, once we get that done, we’ll switch over and do the northbound lanes.”

Also, you can’t go to Huxley from Ankeny on Highway 69. There is a bridge reconstruction project on 69, which has the road closed both ways.   

The DOT is also constructing a round-about on Highway 415 just off the Mile Long Bridge.

“We are building a new roundabout; basically, it’s at the south end of the Mile Long Bridge over Saylorville Lake,” said Nixon. “It’s a real busy intersection with cross traffic, a lot of through traffic and we feel like the roundabouts are a good solution for that area.”

Another project is located on Highway 30 east of Ames.

“Iowa U.S. 30 River Bridge replacement project in Ames currently we’re in year one. We’re building temporary lanes in the median,” said Nixon. “It’s a multi-year project will be shifting traffic throughout that area as well so we can rebuild one side of the edge of the freeway.”  

Nixon said there are many projects which will require drivers to use care and caution.

“We’ve got a lot of work in Central Iowa including the metro area, a lot of traffic shifts, a lot of lane shifts a lot of nighttime closures and lane closures,” said Nixon. “We just asked the traffic pay attention when they’re going through those those work zones just and keep an eye on people around you but also be aware of your surroundings.”

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