Road construction in Iowa could set record this year

Iowa may see one of its biggest years ever for state highway construction, driven by lower bids from contractors and higher-than-expected state and federal funding.

Officials report that during an average season, about $460 million is spent on Iowa highways. This year's spending could equal the record of $600 million set in 2009, when federal economic stimulus money flooded into the state.

Key projects will include widening Interstate 35 to six lanes in West Des Moines, reconstructing the Interstate 80/U.S. Highway 65 interchange at Altoona, and finishing a new Ankeny interchange on I-35.

Work also will continue to widen U.S. Highway 20 to four lanes in western Iowa. Interstate projects also are planned in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities.