The electronic billboards you see posting clever little safety messages from the Iowa Department of Transportation are about to include something new--commute times.

Folks driving on Interstate 380 and Highway 218 in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are going to notice a feature already being used in the Des Moines area.  Some 20 message boards will give drivers an estimated "average travel time".

This new feature is in response to construction projects that are expected to slow down traffic on the I-80 and I-380 interchanges for the foreseeable future.

A DOT spokesperson told CBS2: "Having the travel times on the message boards will give people information to not only be able to better understand commute times but allow them to change if necessary"

The messages can be expected to start on January 21.

Stay up to date on weather forecast information from CBS2 on our free mobile app and website, and for up-to-the-minute road conditions, use Iowa 511.

 

 

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