3 lanes from CR to I-80? (Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: construction, cost, storage)

[zz4guy]

Has anybody heard about the widening of I380? I heard on the news (KCRG) they were going to widen it but all I've heard lately is I-80 is being widened (which is also needed).

During rush hour I-380 is bumper to bumper all the way from IC to CR. Sometimes your lucky to see 70mph. And if anything happens like a stalled car or a snow plow... plan on some big delays.

Anyone have any info about I380 widening? Are the 3 legged turtles in the way or something? What's the hold up?

[metro223]

:-D AH i hope this is true, that whole area needs to be changed from 4 to 6 lanes, it gets very busy and i end up over there quite a bit. and if not widened at least re-surfaced, that thing has pot-holes everywhere!

[metro223]

Oh and quick question kind of off-topic, weren't there once plans to extend state route 100 from edgewood and loop around the west side to u.s. 30? i believe i saw plans for this once, if so, will they ever actually do this?

[SharpHawkeye]

Well, there's been a push to open up passenger rail between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. I'd rather see that than another few lanes on 380.

Officials still mulling area commuter train (http://media.www.dailyiowan.com/media/storage/paper599/news/2007/01/23/Metro/Officials.Still.Mulling.Area.Commuter.Train-2668182.shtml - broken link)

In addition to the environmental advantages, I'll share one detail from the article.

Passenger Commuter Service from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids (with optional North Liberty, CR Airport and Amana Colonies service): $70m

Adding one new lane to I-380: ~$400m

[Chicago60614]

They've completed one year of a SIX year program to widen I-80 through Iowa City. SIX YEARS FOR SIX MILES!? I don't get what's wrong with the IDOT. Elsewhere when they widen roads like that, it takes one construction season. Every one of those bridges along 80 has been widened over the past 10-12 years. All they need to do is throw down another lane in the dirt.

There are no plans that I know if to do anything to 380. The passenger train scenario would cost something like 70 million, compared to over 400 million to widen 380.

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

They've completed one year of a SIX year program to widen I-80 through Iowa City. SIX YEARS FOR SIX MILES!? I don't get what's wrong with the IDOT. Elsewhere when they widen roads like that, it takes one construction season. Every one of those bridges along 80 has been widened over the past 10-12 years. All they need to do is throw down another lane in the dirt.

There are no plans that I know if to do anything to 380. The passenger train scenario would cost something like 70 million, compared to over 400 million to widen 380.

Actually I dont think they even need to widen the road; just encroach on the median to get two more lanes and put up a concrete barrier. That's what it looks like they're doing anyway.

Lane widening might cost 5 times as much, but I'll bet you more than 5 times as many people will benefit from a wider I-380.

[Chicago60614]

^ right, that's what they're doing on I-80. They already replaced the bridges, I just don't understand how they've budgeted the work out over 6 years when they could most likely do it in one....

[zz4guy]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

^ right, that's what they're doing on I-80. They already replaced the bridges, I just don't understand how they've budgeted the work out over 6 years when they could most likely do it in one....

Hey, it's Iowa. We're slow and backwards.

Especially compared to Chi-town.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by zz4guy

Actually I dont think they even need to widen the road; just encroach on the median to get two more lanes and put up a concrete barrier. That's what it looks like they're doing anyway.

Lane widening might cost 5 times as much, but I'll bet you more than 5 times as many people will benefit from a wider I-380.

And produce five times the carbon and pollution.

[Chris19]

I support the road widening for I-380. Going through Eastern Iowa last June and July, I noticed that the traffic was heavy, especially on I-80. I honestly believe that I-80 should be widened from Chicago to the middle part of Nebraska to three lanes on each side.

I-80 widening through Iowa City taking 6 years: that is rather odd. Must be funding issues or a slow way of doing things. A project like that in South Dakota would take a third to half of that time. The widening of the interstate for that distance in Sioux Falls took 2-4 years.