AMES, Iowa – June 28, 2011 – 6:15 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)
is providing the following update on road conditions in western Iowa. The department
is also continuing to monitor at-risk areas as flood water levels change. 

Turn Around Dont Drown®
Flooding is a dynamic situation, ever-changing throughout the day. Motorists need to
take extra precautions when traveling in areas where flooding is occurring or
predicted. 
·  Use additional caution when traveling at night when it is difficult to see a
flooded road ahead or water approaching the roadway from the side. 
·  If you must travel on roadways where water is nearby, give your full attention to
the driving task and expect vehicles ahead to slow down or make sudden stops. 
·  Keep your focus on the road ahead, not on the water around you and adjust your
speed for conditions. 

Current road closures/restrictions
·  UPDATED: I-29 Hamilton Boulevard interchange in Woodbury County: The southbound
I-29 interchange ramps at Hamilton Boulevard in Sioux City are closed. The
northbound off-ramp is also closed. An alternative ramp has been constructed from
southbound I-29 to Wesley Parkway/U.S. 77. 
·  I-29 in Pottawattamie County: The south- and northbound lanes of I-29 between
milepost 54B (North 35th Street interchange in Council Bluffs) and the I-29/680
interchange at milepost 71 (near Loveland) are closed. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·  I-29 in Fremont County, Iowa, and Atchison County, Mo: I-29 is closed in both
directions from Iowa 2 (exit 10 in Iowa) to the U.S. 136 interchange in Missouri
(near Rock Port). This is expected to be a longer-term closure.
·  I-29 exit and entrance ramps in Fremont County: All I-29 exit and entrance ramps
at exit 20 near Thurman are closed due to ground water. 
·  I-680 in Omaha area: I-680 is closed from the I-29/680 interchange (exit 61 near
Crescent) in Iowa to North 30th Street in Omaha, Neb. (exit 13). This closure
includes the Mormon Bridge across the Missouri River. This is expected to be a
longer-term closure.
·  Iowa 2 in Fremont County: Iowa 2 is closed from I-29 in Iowa to Nebraska City.
Both east- and westbound lanes are closed. This is expected to be a longer-term
closure.
·  UPDATED: Iowa 175 between Onawa and Decatur, Neb.: Flood mitigation work was
underway in this area when it became necessary to close the roadway on Monday.
Serious erosion of the embankment near the east abutment of the Decatur bridge has
occurred, which threatened the integrity of the roadway approach to the bridge. It
is no longer safe for travel. Additional details will be released about this
closure. 
·  Iowa 333 in Hamburg: Iowa 333 is closed from I-29 into Hamburg. Access to Hamburg
is currently available via U.S. 275 in Iowa. 
·  UPDATED: Iowa 376 northbound (U.S. 75 Business-Lewis Boulevard): The exit ramp to
westbound Gordon Drive is closed. 

Highway segments at higher risk of being closed due to flooding
·  UPDATED: I-29 (north of Blencoe): Flood barrier walls are being installed in this
area to reduce the risk of flooding. There is a temporary detour in place for I-29
northbound travelers, which is allowing the barriers to be installed. Follow the
detour signs. 
·  UPDATED: I-29 (north of Missouri Valley): Flood barrier walls are being installed
in this area. 
·  NEW: I-29 (north of Modale): This is a levee-protected area. However, if a breach
were to occur, it would be inundated with several feet of flood waters. 
·  NEW: I-29 (north of Whiting): This area is threatened due to a connection between
the Missouri River and a stream that flows under Berry Avenue and through the Badger
Lake State Wildlife Management Area.   
·  UPDATED: U.S. 30 between Missouri Valley and Blair, Neb. This road will close
temporarily beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, to permit installation of
flood barrier walls along the south side of the roadway. The road is expected to be
closed for approximately two days. Operations will be performed around-the-clock to
expedite the work. After the road is reopened, flood barrier walls will be installed
on the north side of the road, but work performed using intermittent closures, pilot
vehicles and flagging operations. 
·  I-29/I-680 interchange: This interchange near Loveland was previously closed due
to flooding. Mitigation work including use of sandbags, barrier wall and pumps
allowed the roadway to reopen. Because this area remains vulnerable to increased
water levels, additional mitigation measures will be taken to help control the flood
waters.  
·  U.S. 34, between I-29 in Iowa and Plattsmouth, Neb.: This roadway is protected by
a levee system, but remains at risk from a levee breach or overtopping. The
mandatory evacuation within Mills County due to rising ground water has not affected
this roadway. U.S. 34 remains open to travel. 

Being monitored 
·  I-29, northbound off-ramp to Dace Avenue in Sioux City (exit 147B or commonly
known as the Downtown/Tyson Events Center): Flood mitigation efforts will be
deployed to try to keep this ramp open.
·  I-29, southbound exit ramp to Nebraska Street (exit 147B) in Sioux City: This
area is dike protected, but would be inundated if the dike is breached or
overtopped. 
·  I-29, northbound and southbound lanes in Sioux City at the U.S. 77/Wesley Parkway
underpass (between exits 148 and 149): Flood mitigation efforts will be deployed to
try to prevent this low area from being flooded. 
·  I-29, from the Bellevue, Neb., interchange (milepost 42) to Iowa 2 (milepost 10):
This area is at a lesser risk, but would be inundated if a levee is breached or
overtopped.
·  I-29 exit and entrance ramps at the Bartlett interchange, exit 24: Ground water
has been rising nearby, which threatens the area below I-29.    
·  Iowa 127 near Mondamin: The Iowa DOT is monitoring areas east and west of
Mondamin, near mileposts 0.8 and 1.5, but the risk of flooding is lower because the
road is protected somewhat by a high ridge. 

Key traveler information resources
·  Iowa DOT’s flood information call center 866-452-8510, open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
daily, speak to an operator for travel assistance
·  Road condition information 24 hours a day: visit www.511ia.org, or call 511 (in
Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside of the state) for a recorded message of road closures

·  Iowa DOT on Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/iowadot/ 
·  View the flooded Iowa roads map for road closures, detours and areas at risk of
flooding - http://tinyurl.com/3o2mtlp