Iowa DOT addresses imminent road dangers head-on with light and sound

April 2, 2021

This time of year, our Iowa Department of Transportation maintenance crews turn their focus from plowing snow to making roadway repairs like patching potholes and painting. These activities often take our people out of their trucks on to the roadway, dangerously close to speeding traffic.

The sound and vibration of cars and trucks whizzing by you at 70+ miles per hour is something we learn to live with as we get the job done, but the fear of being hit by an inattentive or speeding driver is real and it takes a toll.

Long-standing partnership with TRB helps bring resources and relationships to Iowa

March 11, 2021

No one agency has all the answers. The Iowa Department of Transportation has a long history of collaborating with other states and national organizations to explore options to make Iowa’s transportation system the best in the country.

Online public input tool going strong to keep projects moving

March 8, 2021

At the Iowa Department of Transportation, we want to hear what you think about roadway and bridge projects that might impact you, whether they are in the planning phase, under construction, or recently been constructed. To more easily gain this input, we’ve been using an online public meeting system for the past few years. Little did we know that tool would become invaluable in the age of COVID.  Being able to work through the public input process in a safe, online information portal keeps the work we do for you moving along without a hitch, even in a global pandemic.

Iowa DOT planning for change

January 25, 2021

Our transportation system is an ever-evolving network of highways, railways, airports, transit hubs, waterways, and trails. Transportation needs can be driven by many factors, with the largest driver of recent change being the pandemic. Planning for the long-term future of an adaptable transportation system takes expert data analysis and an understanding of how best to move people and goods. The Iowa Department of Transportation carries out long-range transportation planning to help guide our transportation system into the future.

Iowa DOT employs new method to fill gaps in pavement temperature data

December 18, 2020

Winter in Iowa often means snow and ice, making getting around by vehicle a little tricky. The Iowa Department of Transportation is using more data than ever to find better, more effective ways to treat roads, helping drivers get around more safely and easily.

One of the most critical data points we collect is pavement temperature. Tina Greenfield from the Iowa DOT’s Maintenance Bureau, says, “As you might expect if pavement temperatures are very cold, precipitation and moisture can freeze on the roads causing our treatment options to be different than when pavement temperatures are warmer. Having this accurate data guides our winter operations.”

Weigh-in-motion systems save industry time and money, make roads safer for everyone

November 19, 2020

Large trucks carry goods to every corner of the globe. Without dedicated commercial drivers and the companies they work for, we wouldn’t have access to the items we depend on every day. But with all that truck traffic comes wear and tear to our roads. Over the years, engineers have developed specifications for roadbuilding that can accommodate the weight of these large trucks, but trucks that exceed the design weight can cause extensive damage to the roads, making for unsafe conditions and costing us all taxpayer dollars for repairs.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement is a team of certified peace officers dedicated to motor carrier safety. Part of that mission includes weighing large trucks to ensure they don’t exceed prescribed weight limits. New technology being utilized by Iowa DOT’s MVE includes mobile technology to allow officers to “weigh-in-motion.”