[UPDATE 6/14 4 p.m.] The Iowa DOT will close the I-380 northbound on-ramp from Wilson Avenue at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 16. According to a release from the DOT and the city of Cedar Rapids,

the closure will provide safety to the public while repairs are being conducted on the northbound I-380 Bridge over 15th Avenue and 16th Avenue.  I-380 northbound access will be available via 33rd Avenue SW."

[ORIGINAL STORY 6/2] Interstate 380 is already one of the busiest roadways in the area, and it's about to get a whole lot more congested. That's because a $1.5 million project is underway that could cause delays throughout the summer in Cedar Rapids, according to The Gazette.

You may have noticed some construction in the median of I-380 near the bridge that crosses over 15th and 16th Avenues. Well, all of that is the beginning stages of a big project coming this summer.

The project will consist of laying pavement on the northbound bridge over 15th and 16th Avenues in SW Cedar Rapids and that's going to make interstate traffic in that area look very different.

As you know, there are three lanes on I-380 throughout Cedar Rapids. In the construction zone, there will still be three lanes of northbound traffic, but only two of them will be on the actual bridge. Say what? How they're going to accomplish it takes us back to that work in the median that we're already seeing.

The median construction will eventually become two temporary lanes that will carry traffic across the median. One will take traffic off the northbound side over to the southbound side (and around the construction), and the other will return traffic to the northbound side once they've passed the construction area. The far right lane of southbound 380 in that vicinity will actually be utilizing the edge of the interstate to allow the lane of northbound traffic (on the southbound side) in that area. There will be temporary barriers in place, of course.

It's confusing to explain and it no doubt will also cause a slowdown in traffic as it will be quite an adjustment for drivers. The lane changes could take effect later this month and the work won't be done until October. Even better, we'll get to do it all over again in 2018, on the south side of the interstate. Ready or not, construction season is here and this will definitely be a 'fun' one!

 

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