When spring arrives in Iowa, flowers push their way out of the ground as a sign of new starts. It’s also when orange barrels and cones seem to bloom too – signaling the start of the roadway construction season. 

Each day, Iowans need to use highways and streets, whether it’s to get to work or a medical appointment, receive mail, gather groceries, attend events, visit family, or the many other ways we move us and our goods and services from point A to point B.

Iowa’s interstate and primary highways managed by the Iowa Department of Transportation are an essential part of our personal mobility and our state’s economy. In order to ensure that highways can serve these needs, Iowa DOT is supporting nearly $980 million of improvement projects in SFY 27.  As we invest in these projects, we want to help Iowans safely navigate construction and work zones.

Aerial photo of Hickman Road interchange

This season across Iowa, crews will especially be working on critical projects that impact motorists and truckers for both local and statewide movements. District 1 Construction Engineer Frank Leong says the busy 2026 construction season in the DOT’s most populated transportation dense area of central Iowa alone – including the Des Moines metro area and the crossroads of I-80 and I-35 – could see more than 100 different construction and maintenance projects during key construction months. In 2025, the district completed approximately 80 projects in the season that stretched through every month of the year.

“That included everything from what we call the ground up, covering drainage work to repairing pavement and pavement markings, all the way to the electrical systems,” says Leong. “And we also do about five bridge replacements a year in central Iowa with anywhere from 12 to 14 rehabilitation projects which could be anything from resurfacing to patching, or just getting the crack sealed so that we don't have moisture problems on the bridges,” he added.

The longer-term 2026-30 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program five-year plan forecasts approximately $4.3 billion of state and federal funding will be invested in highway right of way and bridge construction throughout the state. To see the program, an interactive map provides project descriptions for highways and structures along with the downloadable program.

Use Iowa 511 to see work zones and project updates

Drivers are urged to practice work zone safety by increasing following distances, eliminating distractions, and using the Iowa 511 Traveler Information System website or app as a tool for real-time traffic/construction project updates.

When checking the 511ia.org map, you can see current and upcoming projects and access descriptions. With the Construction layer selected, drivers can click on the yellow road lane icons to see a description of a current project. With the Future Construction layer selected, click on a blue calendar icon for upcoming project information. Both types of icons include project dates, photos, cameras, and construction office contacts.

511 map

While on the website or app, users can also set up a free 511 account to save routes and  receive personalized alerts via text, email, or push notifications. A saved route can be used to view all traffic events along that route. The map will show your route, and a list view of all events and cameras for the layers you have turned on. You can also view directions, Electric Vehicle Charging stations, or travel times.

Project highlights on key routes

In all regions of the state, many small and large projects have kicked off recently, with dozens more being finalized for launch in the coming months. To explore more expansive construction projects across the state, visit the DOT’s “Major Construction Projects” page on the website for more details. This is not an exhaustive list, but provides a higher-level overview of project activity in 2026:

Central

I-35

I-80

  • Removal of old EB pavement on Raccoon River Bridges in Dallas County.

U.S. 30

  • Grading/paving to replace bridges over Skunk River in Story County.

Northeast Mixmaster - Des Moines I-35/80/235

  • Shift EB traffic north to the old WB lanes to build new EB lanes.

Southwest Mixmaster - Des Moines I-35/80/235

  • Later this year, reconstruction of the interchange will begin north of University Avenue and continue south to the Ashworth Road overpass south of the interchange.

Hickman Road Interchange - Clive/Urbandale I-35/80

  • All ramps are now open.  Road construction will be concentrated to the middle of freeway and Hickman Road as this year’s road work gears up.

I-80 Grand Prairie Parkway Interchange – West Des Moines I-80

  • EB work continues and WB improvements are planned for 2026.

North

I-35

  • Resurfacing and paving in Franklin, Cerro Gordo, and Worth Counties.

U.S. 65

  • Completion of paving from 19th Street to 27th Street in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County.

South

I-35

  • Grading and paving for future lane expansion north of North River to south of Badger Creek in Warren County.

East

I-380 Corridor Reconstruction – Cedar Rapids/Coralville/Iowa City

  • Boyson Road Interchange in Hiawatha reopens spring/summer.
  • Continued widening on I-380 NB/SB from north of Forevergreen Road to Swan Lake Road, including the Penn Street interchange in North Liberty.
  • U.S. 30 WB to I-380 SB loop ramp construction.
  • Continued construction and widening on I-380 NB/SB from north of 120th Ave to U.S. 30, including the Wright Brothers Boulevard interchange in Cedar Rapids.
  • Resurfacing, replace outside shoulder NB and SB north of County Home Road to north of County Road W36.

I-80

  • Middle Road Interchange Reconstruction in Scott County.
  • Pavement rehabilitation EB and WB east of the Rest Areas to west of County Road V66 in Iowa County.

U.S. 20

  • Resurfacing from Farley to Swiss Valley (EB) in Dubuque County.
  • Repairs on Julien Dubuque Bridge over Mississippi River.
  • Paving from Hudson Road to U.S. 63 in Black Hawk County.

U.S. 30

  • Grading/paving/widening east of Lisbon to west of Stanwood in Cedar County.
  • Pavement markings over the Wapsipinicon River in Clinton County.

U.S. 218

  • Completion of paving from Cedar River in Janesville to IA 116 in Waverly in Bremer County.

U.S. 61

  • Paving of Segment 3 from north of Mediapolis to north of IA 78 in Des Moines County.

U.S. 63

  • Grading and structures at NW bypass around Oskaloosa in Mahaska County.

West

I-29

  • Grading and paving for new interchange at County Road D38 at Sergeant Bluff in Sioux County.
  • Grading, paving, and a bridge replacement at the IA 175/Monona interchange in Clayton County.

I-80

  • Patching from east of I-880 to west of Silver Creek Bridge in Pottawattamie County.
  • South of County Road L19 to south of I-880 SB in Pottawattamie County.

U.S. 20

  • Pavement replacement from east of Franklin Avenue to east of Humboldt Avenue near Moville in Woodbury County.