Road Construction

It may just be where I’m getting routed, but the amount of road and bridge construction going on is phenomenal I’ve been mostly in IL, IN, AR, MO. Indiana especially.

I’ve actually been allowing a little more time for all those construction zone slow downs.

What are you experiencing this summer?

Tremendous amount and more than I've ever seen.

I have been padding my ETA by an extra hour. This is above and beyond the wiggle room I already plan into everything.

It may just be where I’m getting routed, but the amount of road and bridge construction going on is phenomenal I’ve been mostly in IL, IN, AR, MO. Indiana especially.

I’ve actually been allowing a little more time for all those construction zone slow downs.

What are you experiencing this summer?

It seems like they close it down to one lane forever then work on just a tiny section of it.

Fortunately I haven't been too impacted by construction YET. For the past 2 months they've had nightly road closures along I35 to cut sections of the concrete just to replace it. Anyone know what the purpose of that is, btw? I35 between Ankeny and Ames IA is going to be a huge mess for a couple years. They're adding an additional lane each direction which will require them to replace most of the bridges in the process. They're also rebuilding the interchanges for I35 and I80 on both the east and west side of Des Moines which will take several years to add their flyover ramps that are becoming more popular in the area. There's also set to be major rebuilding along I-494 in the Minneapolis area resurfacing and rebuilding bridges that is set to take several years.

It seems like they close it down to one lane forever then work on just a tiny section of it.

That's so annoying when they do it. I also hate when they keep the lanes closed overnight when there's no work being done and the lanes appear to be safe. For 3 weeks now they've had a 10 mile of section of US 69 torn up. They tore the asphalt off but left the under surface making it a very bumpy ride. I guess they have it resurfaced to the north near US 20 but not through the heart of our small town. Our town has its annual festival this weekend and some of the events they do yearly (like firemen water fight, using waterhoses to knock a ball on a rope to the other teams side) can't happen due to safety concerns. Not sure if they've decided to move the parade route as well. Last week someone needed to be life flighted due to a bad accident going too fast on that terrible surface north of town.

Rob, the highway engineers go over the pavement and identify sections that are compromised. These are the sections that get cut out and replaced.

In my neck of the woods, Hwy 151/18 between Madison, WI and Dodgeville had this done every year for years. All these replaced sections made for a horrible ride. I guess they finally got all the individual repairs done and the last two summers they have been laying down new asphalt over the concrete. What a difference it has made.

It always boggles my mind what a complex process it is to repair and repave these deteriorated roads. Not just the construction itself, but what it takes to keep traffic moving even if in one lane.

Orange barrels in full bloom!

I have the pleasure of driving through Indiana everyday on 65 and 70..... 70 is so bad I think the horse and buggy days had a better ride!

On 65 they finished some bridge projects, but for some reason can't get the transition correct. Still really rough ride for a new surface.

I have the pleasure of driving through Indiana everyday on 65 and 70..... 70 is so bad I think the horse and buggy days had a better ride!

On 65 they finished some bridge projects, but for some reason can't get the transition correct. Still really rough ride for a new surface.

Bobcat, before I posted this thread, I had just been down 65 and then west on 70 headed to Texas.

If you have to do that route everyday, you have both my respect and my sympathy.