I-80/I-380 interchange reconstruction enters fourth year on schedule

IOWA CITY — Entering its fourth year of construction, the massive re-imaging of the interstates 80 and 380 interchange in 2022 will focus on completing new bridges, opening a new ramp and finishing major work to allow northbound and southbound traffic to flow better.

As has been the case since the project started in 2018, there will be upcoming shifts in traffic patterns, including one this week.

Last year “was a very productive year due to the dry conditions and drought we experienced, and warm weather late in the fall allowed us to continue grading operations pretty much until Christmas,” said Hugh Holak, resident construction engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The $387 million interchange project, one of Iowa DOT's top priorities, is at the junction of I-80, I-380 and Highway 218 in Johnson County. The multiyear project will replace all four loops of the interchange with directional ramps. Additionally, parts of I-380 north of I-80 and parts of Highway 218 south of I-80 will be widened, as will I-80 on both sides of the interchange.

The Iowa DOT lists four main benefits in its 2021 annual report for the project:

Work on the project is expected to continue through 2024, with final erosion control expected in 2025.

2021 milestones

Among the milestones completed last year, Holak said, was finishing northbound I-380 lanes from the interchange. Traffic was switched from the median over to the new pavement, he said.

Southbound I-380 south of Forevergreen Road was shifted during the winter months to allow work on the southbound bridges.

“During the wintertime, that's about all you really can do is bridge work. But by getting that traffic switched in December, it allowed us to get a good jumpstart on bridgework for this year,” Holak said.

Other accomplishments in 2021 included grading work for several ramps, removal of old pavement, grading work and erosion control, according to last year’s annual report.

Work continues

Work in 2022 will include lane shifts to accommodate widening, construction of new bridges, a new ramp opening in the summer, as well as grading and paving work around the interchange area, according to the Iowa DOT.

One of the focuses for early spring, Holak said, is to get all paving done westbound in I-80 through the ramp terminals and underneath I-80 so westbound traffic can be switched. This will allow for crews to work on eastbound I-80 for most of the season, which will include bridgework and regrading, Holak said.

During this time, eastbound traffic will be in the median, Holak said.

“Our goal is to work on that through the heart of the summer,” Holak said.

Holak added that “a lot of bridge decks are going to get poured fairly early this season.”

The I-380 southbound to I-80 eastbound loop ramp is expected to close sometime in June, which will be the final loop closure, he said. Traffic will be expected to go over I-80 and underneath Highway 218.

The new ramp is graded and ready to be paved, Holak said.

“When they open that ramp and close the loop, that should actually enhance traffic flow quite a bit,” Holak said.

Another focus is to complete all construction southbound on I-380 and northbound on Highway 218. The north-south leg should be completed by August, Holak anticipated.

“Something that you won't have to look forward to next season in 2023 is a lot of work going on the north-south route all the way through the project,” he said.

One of the challenges this year, Holak said, is material availability, as well as contractors experiencing inflation on quoted prices for materials.

“The inflation has impacted the contractors, but our specifications do not allow for prices to increase after the original bid,” Holak said. “On change order items added, the contractors have the opportunity to supply new pricing.”

Holak said workforce on the project has been “steady” since contractors can move crews between projects.

Closures, traffic shifts expected

Drivers should also be mindful of upcoming traffic shifts and detours as construction continues. Holak advises drivers to watch speed limits and drive safely through the work zones.

Traffic on Highway 218 northbound shifted last month into southbound lanes to allow roadway removal and paving. The 1-mile long traffic shift will be in place through late summer or fall of this year. Contractors also began refreshing pavement markings, according to the Iowa DOT.

Holak said the removals have been completed, and crews are waiting for dry enough weather to begin placing the base rock and prepare for paving.

Holak said to expect a traffic shift this week on southbound I-380, under Forevergreen Road.

“We hope to start removals of the southbound pavement through the Forevergreen interchange area, so that would pretty much be everything north of Highway 6,” Holak said.

The project will continue to see closures, typically late at night, with updates and detours posted to the Iowa DOT website at iowadot.gov/i80-i380. Individuals can sign up for project updates on the Iowa DOT’s website.

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