Construction Set To Start On Multiple Northeast Iowa Bridges

Road work is an obstacle motorists commonly encounter during the summer months. This year is no exception.

If the weather allows, construction is about to get underway on multiple bridge projects in northeast Iowa. Bridge approach resurfacing will impact the flow of traffic at several locations in Black Hawk and Bremer counties starting Sunday night.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, the following highway ramps and lanes will be closed while the work is being done:

• U.S. 218/Iowa 58/Iowa 27 in Cedar Falls

• U.S. 63 in Denver: Bridge approach work over a small, Bremer County stream. Traffic will be maintained with lane closures, IDOT officials said.

• Southbound Iowa 58/Iowa 27 exit ramp to University Ave. in Cedar Falls: Overnight ramp closure. A marked detour will direct traffic to use the next interchange two miles south at Viking Road.

• Southbound U.S. 218/Iowa 27 exit ramp to Iowa 57 in Cedar Falls: Daytime closures are expected to occur for up to two days. The marked detour will direct traffic to use the next interchange two miles south at Waterloo Road.

• U.S. 218 to Iowa 58/Iowa 27 flyover bridge in Cedar Falls: IDOT officials have indicated there won't be any detours but lanes closures will be necessary throughout the work area.

Starting Monday, a bridge deck overlay project on Iowa Highway 3 in Fayette County will require lane closures through mid-October northwest of Oelwein. The bridge spans Otter Creek and located about 2.4 miles west of the west junction with Iowa Highway 150.

During the project, traffic in the work zone will be maintained using temporary signals. According to IDOT officials, a 12-foot, 6-inch lane-width restriction  will be in place during the first stag of the project. An 11-foot lane-width restriction will be in place during the second stage until work is finished.

In Lansing, an annual inspection of the Iowa Highway 9 bridge -- also known as the Black Hawk Bridge -- over the Mississippi River will also require lane closures. IDOT officials said the lane closures will occur during daylight hours and flaggers will be used to control traffic.

Inspection of the Iowa 9 bridge is expected to take about two weeks, IDOT officials said.