Construction work to impact I-80 in Iowa City again

IOWA CITY - Spring is almost here and so comes the return of construction on the widening project of Interstate 80 in Johnson County.

Widening work on I-80 in the Iowa City area is resuming for its fourth construction season this week.

This year marks the third phase of a $190-million  project that will continue the three-lane portion of I-80 from the Iowa River Bridge to Herbert Hoover Highway, a distance of about 4.5 miles.

Initially, crews will work at night to move barrier rails and freshen existing pavement striping. In about three weeks, the westbound lanes of I-80 will become two-directional, and cutovers will be opened to shift eastbound traffic through the construction zones.

Speed limits will be reduced to 55 miles per hour. After the cutovers are opened, construction will take place during the day.