I-35 near Ames, Iowa, has reopened following its closure due to flooding, but a section of I-80 east of Des Moines, in the Colefax area, MM155-159, might have to be closed as soon as midnight due to expected flooding.


Record-level flood waters from the Ames area are making their way downstream and are expected to impact more roadways this afternoon and during the overnight. In addition, up to 5 inches of rain is predicted for parts of the state tonight through Saturday.

U.S. highways currently affected by the flooding include:

* U.S. 61 and U.S. 136 in Lee County - The road is closed near Keokuk. Traffic normally going across the Des Moines River Bridge near Keokuk is being directed to the Des Moines River Bridge at St. Francisville.

* U.S. 65 in Jasper County - The northbound lanes have been reduced to a single lane of traffic at the Indian Creek crossing, northwest of Mingo.

* U.S. 65 in Polk County - The northbound lanes have been reduced to a single lane of traffic at the Skunk River crossing north of Bondurant.

The Iowa DOT has established a temporary customer service phone line. Call 866-452-8510 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. For road condition information outside these hours or after this event, call 511 (in Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (outside the state).

A special flood closure map is available at: www.iowadot.gov.