The Iowa Department of Transportation announced it will be reconstructing two rest areas along Interstate 35 in Polk County, which will replace existing rest areas north of the First Street interchange.


The replacement rest areas will be located at milepost 99, about midway between the Elkhart and Iowa 210 interchanges. The existing rest areas had to be closed and replaced because the state is building an interchange at I-35 and 36th Street near Ankeny.

According to reports by the Des Moines Register, the project will cost about $14 million. Iowa expects construction to take place during fiscal year 2012, after environmental and archaeological clearances are obtained and right of way is acquired.

After several public meetings, the Iowa DOT decided on this location after considering proximity to the current Ankeny rest areas and current and future area highway interchanges; spacing and overall travel distances to rest areas along the I-35 corridor in Story City and Osceola; public input; cost; and environmental impacts.