I-35 from Ankeny to Huxley Construction

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About the Project
Long Term Detours
Photos and Video

About the Project

What: Full reconstruction of I-35 and bridges over the road from the 36th Street interchange in Ankeny to the 315th Street bridge near Huxley.

Widening the road from four lanes to six for nine miles in the project area
Building five new bridges, including two new interchanges
Bridges incorporate Monarch Highway theme

Why: The bridges in this project area have reached the end of their useful life. Widening the interstate and replacing the bridges will improve safety and increase the reliability of travel for the increase in traffic expected in the future.

How: Since several bridges and roads are being reconstructed or updated, we’ve taken a carefully planned, phased approach over the next few years.

When:

2023: The first bridge project began at the Elkhart interchange and new pavement was built on I-35 southbound 36th Street north to NW 134th Avenue.
2024: We’ll be building a new bridge at 315th Street in Huxley and replacing the existing Heart of Iowa Nature Trail Bridge with a culvert under I-35. There will also be road work on southbound I-35 between NW 134th Avenue and Northwest 150th Avenue.
2023: The first bridge project began at the Elkhart interchange and new pavement was built on I-35 southbound 36th Street north to NW 134th Avenue.
2025: We’ll be putting in a new interchange at Iowa 210 in Huxley and a new bridge on NW 158th Avenue over I-35. For the interstate, we’ll be rebuilding southbound I-35 between NW 150th Avenue and the northern end of the project in Huxley.
2026 and 2027: new northbound lanes on I-35 for the entire length of the project.

Project Budget: $163.6 million

Long Term Detours

Visit Iowa DOT News to find detour information for closures lasting less than a week.

I-35 Ankeny to Huxley Detours

The I-35 and IA 210 interchange will be closed beginning Monday, March 17, 2025. All ramps and the bridge will be removed, and new ramps and a bridge will be constructed. Traffic will be detoured via US 69 and drivers can access I-35 from US 30 or NE 126th Avenue (Elkhart interchange). The new interchange is expected to be open to traffic around December 1, 2025. The contractor has been working on grading and paving the new southbound lanes that will connect from existing I-35 to the new interchange.

The 158th Avenue bridge will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, March 17, 2025. This bridge over I-35 will be removed and a new bridge will be constructed in its place. The new bridge is expected to be finished in 2026. The 142nd Avenue bridge over I-35 is progressing and is expected to be open to traffic mid-May. There will be an overlap where these two bridges are both closed, as well as the one on Iowa 210, so please plan your trips accordingly.