Travel during the upcoming July 4 holiday may be slowed by road construction, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. Officials say several projects on Iowa’s interstate and state roadways may warrant advance planning on the part of drivers. Among them….

In Northwest and western Iowa:

• Iowa Highway 3 is closed for widening and resurfacing from U.S. 75 to Iowa 404 west of Le Mars. Traffic is detoured.
• Pavement reconstruction of southbound I-29 from I-129 to Sergeant Bluff has traffic placed in a two-lane, two-way pattern in the northbound lanes between mileposts 141 and 144.
• Pavement reconstruction of I-29 in Sioux City near the Iowa 12 (Riverside Boulevard) interchange has restricted traffic to two lanes in each direction for the 2 miles adjacent to the South Dakota border.
• Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 77 in Sioux City has restricted traffic to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the northbound lanes of U.S. 77 over I-29.
• Bridge reconstruction on U.S. 59 south of Denison in Crawford County has restricted the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.

In Southwest Iowa:

• A bridge deck overlay on U.S. 30 west of Missouri Valley in Harrison County has reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals. The open lane has an 11-foot width restriction.
• Staged bridge construction on U.S. 30 northeast of Woodbine in Harrison County has reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
• Bridge construction on I-80 over the West Nishnabotna River near Avoca in Pottawattamie County has closed the westbound lanes between mileposts 34 and 40. Traffic has been shifted to a two-lane, two-way pattern in the eastbound lanes.
• Bridge construction has closed northbound I-29 in Fremont County between mileposts 21 and 25. Traffic has been shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the southbound lanes.
• Asphalt resurfacing in the northbound lanes of I-29 in Fremont County between mileposts 10 and 17 has traffic shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the southbound lanes. Bridge deck overlays at two locations on U.S. 71 south of Atlantic in Cass County have reduced the roadway to one lane. Traffic is being maintained with temporary traffic signals.
• A new bridge deck is being placed on the eastbound I-80 Wiota interchange bridge at milepost 64; and a new bridge over Crooked Creek is being built at milepost 69 in Cass County. Traffic is shifted to a two-lane, two-way traffic pattern in the westbound lanes between mileposts 60 and 70. The eastbound ramps at Wiota are closed and a detour is in place for Cass County Road N-28.
• Iowa 148 between Massena and Anita in Cass County is closed for highway repair work. Traffic should follow the marked detour.

Some tips for driving safely in work zones:

Expect the unexpected. Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may be changed, and people may be working on or near the road. Slow down and do not tailgate. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and road workers and their equipment. Pay attention to the signs. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that reads “End Road Work.” Obey flaggers. The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely in the work zone. A flagger has the same authority as a regulatory sign, so you can be cited for disobeying his or her directions. Stay alert and minimize distractions. Keep up with the traffic flow. Motorists can help maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Do not drive right up to the lane closure and then try to merge. Be patient and stay calm.Watch for persons wearing high visibility (HiViz) apparel. All persons are required by federal law to wear HiViz apparel when in highway work zones.

Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time. Be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. Buckle up. Iowa law requires all persons to be buckled up in the front seat and all persons under age 18 to be buckled up, regardless of vehicle seating position.