ANKENY, Iowa – June 20, 2025 – The Iowa DOT will be installing on-ramp gates along five key interchanges on northbound I-35 through Ankeny. The gates will allow maintenance crews and law enforcement to close the ramps when roadways are blocked or impacted from inclement weather such as blizzards, ice storms, floods, crashes, hazardous material spills, and other emergencies. Gate installation is currently underway and will include these I-35 interchanges northbound on-ramps:
- Corporate Woods Drive
- Oralabor Road
- 1st Street
- 36th Street
- NE 72nd Street
The gates consist of a set of 18-foot swing-type, farm-style fence gates, hinged to posts. These gates are presently installed at the on-ramps of several interchanges on northbound I-35 to the Minnesota border and I-80 from Altoona to Iowa City. The Iowa DOT and area law enforcement will jointly make the decision to deploy these gates.
There are no plans to install gates at southbound entrance ramps in the Ankeny area for traffic heading into the Des Moines metro as the majority of winter traffic issues occur when motorists travel north across open areas that are more susceptible to blowing and drifting snow and icing.
During emergencies or inclement weather, the DOT advises motorists to check traveler information that is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or X (find links at https://iowadot.gov/travel-tools/iowa-511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.
It’s easy to subscribe to Your 511 and sign up to receive email/text alerts. Visit https://new.511ia.org/#login to sign up. For instructions and help with this feature, visit https://www.511ia.org/help/section/how-to-create-and-manage-a-511-account.html.
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For general information about this project contact either Bob Ellis at the District 1 office at 515-239-1634 or robert.ellis@iowadot.us or Gary Kretlow at the District 1 office at 515-239-1199 or gary.kretlowjr@iowadot.us