The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to reopen Interstate 29 at 10 a.m. tomorrow, from the Missouri state line to U.S. 34 (exit 32) near Pacific Junction. Interstate 29 in southwest Iowa has been closed since June 15.


Heavy traffic and congestion is expected on I-29 around the reopening time. The Iowa DOT asks that vehicles not park on the interstate while waiting for the road to reopen.

Temporary lane crossovers will be in place at mileposts 0.8 northbound and 3.2 southbound, near Hamburg. Two-way traffic conditions will be present between the crossovers and diverted into the southbound lanes. The crossovers are necessary until repairs can be completed to the embankment of the northbound bridge, which was damaged during the flooding.

Earlier this week, the Missouri DOT announced that its portion of Interstate 29 will soon reopen from Rock Port, Mo., (exit 110) to U.S. Highway 34 (exit 32) near Pacific Junction, Iowa. The 15 miles of Missouri interstate closed on June 15 when flood waters forced Iowa to close I-29 near the border.

Exit 1, Iowa 333 to Hamburg; and exit 10, Iowa 2 to Nebraska City, will remain closed after I-29 reopens. Iowa 333 has sustained flood damage; and now that the water has receded, the Iowa DOT will be able to perform a more thorough assessment of the roadway. Iowa 2 sustained substantial damage due to the flooding and must be repaired.

U.S. 34 under I-29 to Pacific Junction, which has been closed for bridge construction, has also reopened to traffic.