The Iowa Department of Transportation is moving forward with long-planned improvements to Interstate 35 between Huxley and Ames, inviting public feedback ahead of a major reconstruction effort expected to begin in 2027.
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The proposal is part of a multi-year infrastructure plan aimed at addressing rapid traffic growth along one of central Iowa’s busiest commuter corridors. According to the Iowa DOT, traffic volumes on I-35 south of U.S. Highway 30 have increased significantly over the past two decades, rising from about 35,000 vehicles per day in 2005 to approximately 47,000 vehicles in 2024. Officials expect those numbers to continue climbing as the Ames and Des Moines metro areas expand.
Planned improvements include widening I-35 to six lanes between Huxley and the U.S. 30 interchange in Ames, replacing and widening I-35 bridges over U.S. 30, and reconstructing interchange ramps to improve traffic flow and safety. The plan also calls for lowering U.S. 30 to provide additional clearance beneath the rebuilt I-35 bridges, a change intended to modernize the interchange and reduce long-term maintenance challenges.
In addition to roadway and bridge work, the project would permanently close 564th Avenue south of Ames between 280th and 290th streets, a move the DOT says is necessary to support the new interchange configuration and improve overall corridor safety.
The total cost of the improvements is estimated at $100 million, reflecting the scale of reconstruction and the complexity of working within an active interstate corridor. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027 and continue through the end of 2030, meaning commuters should prepare for phased work and traffic impacts over several years.
The Iowa DOT has emphasized that public input remains a key part of the planning process. The current comment period runs through the end of December, giving residents, commuters and local stakeholders an opportunity to submit questions or concerns through the department’s website before final design decisions are made.
If approved as planned, the project would mark one of the most significant transportation investments in Story County in decades, aimed at improving capacity, safety and reliability along a critical north-south route serving Ames, Huxley and the broader region.
Originally reported by Lucia Cheng in Des Moines Register.
