More than 90,000 motorists travel the Interstate 80/Interstate 380 interchange every day. Those drivers are about to see more changes and delays as work moves ahead on the huge construction project. The merging of the two interstates is one of the most congested traffic areas in the state.

Construction on the $350 million project began last year. Crews did utility work in the area. This year they'll work on medians and secondary roads. Two of the projects include the Forever Green Road interchange and moving Kansas Avenue in Johnson County. Work on the interchange itself and the roadways won't likely begin until 2020.

With the likelihood of increased congestion due to the road work, the Iowa DOT is urging drivers to carpool if they can. An express bus service will also start later this year to shuttle people back and forth between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. DOT officials say fewer vehicles on the roadways means fewer accidents and fewer delays.

In the end, you can say goodbye to the old cloverleaf interchange. The new one will be whats called a turbine interchange. Vehicles will no longer have to slow down and merge into traffic. A welcome change in the end, but getting there is going to be a challenge!

 

[via KCRG]

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