Transportation Matters for Iowa

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Multi-year I-80/380 project transforming travel in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor

August 22, 2022

Whenever you have a large amount of traffic of various vehicle types converging on one spot, there are a unique set of safety concerns. With “Safety First, “People Matter” and “Customer Focused” as three of our Iowa DOT core values, addressing these concerns is a top priority.

The Interstate 80/380 interchange in Iowa City is a major crossroads for the state of Iowa and the rest of the nation. As one of the busiest interchanges in the state, I-80/I-380 is a vital link in the overall connectivity, mobility, freight movement, and economic well-being. A multi-year project now underway includes installing new directional ramps to increase the safety and flow of traffic and replacing the current loop ramps that have seen weaving traffic which created congestion and safety issues.

New app tests process of identifying available truck parking

August 19, 2022

Driving down the interstate, you get a feel for all the commerce that moves in the trailers of semis. With “Safety First” as a core value of the Iowa Department of Transportation, we’re doing everything we can to support professional drivers, including assisting in research to help them find parking when they need to rest.

Roadside Chat - The wheels on the bus go round & round - watch for us

August 19, 2022

Many Iowa school districts open their doors for students next week, which means you’ll be seeing school buses loaded with our most precious cargo. Do you know when it is safe and legal to pass a school bus?

Roadside Chat - Find your fun, but be the one who drives sober

August 12, 2022

There is so much fun to be found in Iowa this time of year. The Iowa State Fair kicked off on Aug. 11, and sweet corn and yummy fresh produce are being sold at roadside stands all over the state.

Whether you’re spending a day visiting the Butter Cow, touring the livestock barns and catching a grandstand show, or just grilling out with friends and family, don’t let the fun end by allowing an impaired driver to get behind the wheel.

Personnel updates for July 22, 2022 to August 4, 2022

August 11, 2022

Information supplied by the Bureau of Budget and Business Systems

Iowa’s first dual-language signs are installed on U.S. 30 near Tama

August 10, 2022

What does the Iowa Department of Transportation’s core focus “Making lives better through transportation” mean in reality? For our Cultural Resources team, it means working with Iowa’s tribes to help preserve their culture for future generations and bring the heritage of native peoples to travelers.

Traveling on U.S. 30 near Tama, you’ll notice new signs erected at the edge of the Meskwaki Settlement. The sign features the Meskwaki Tribal Logo next to the native language spelling of the tribe “Meskwakiinaki”, which is above the English spelling of “Meskwaki Settlement.”

Roadside Chat - Buckle up or risk eating glass

August 5, 2022

Take a minute to think about this - more than half of the people killed in vehicle crashes in the United States in 2020 weren’t wearing seat belts. So far this year in Iowa, nearly 45 percent of those killed were unbelted. In our state, that means 60 mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters are not enjoying the summer with their families when the simple click of a seat belt might have saved their lives.

One word may come to your mind when pondering these senseless deaths. “Why - why weren’t these people bucked up?”

August 2022 Service awards

August 1, 2022

Information provided by the Budget and Business Systems Bureau

Roadside Chat - Keep your load off the road. Tie it or tarp it

July 29, 2022

With eyes on the road 24/7/365, what do our Traffic Management Center operators see? Tires, ladders, couches, construction materials, and all kinds of other debris are common sights on Iowa’s roadways. From January through the end of June, operators have logged 806 reports of debris on the road.

This debris doesn’t just make Iowa roads look bad, it can be very dangerous for you and your family. Whether you run over the debris and damage a tire, swerve out of the way to avoid debris, or get hit by items flying out of another vehicle, the potential for disaster is high.