High water keeps Iowa roads closed

Flooded I-680 near Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Courtesy of Iowa Department of Transportation)Flooded I-680 near Council Bluffs, Iowa. (Courtesy of Iowa Department of Transportation)

Some portions of major Iowa highways remain closed after almost three months, forcing truckers to detour as much as 121 miles, and a reopening schedule is not yet available.

Recently, the Missouri River has receded from flooding that began June 9. Iowa Department of Transportation employees are getting their first post-flood glimpses of Interstate 680 at the Interstate 29 interchange. Damage assessment will take time, but reopening will not occur this year, said spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher.

As of Aug. 31, I-680 between Mormon Bridge and exit 62 still is closed. So is  I-29 between Missouri and exit 32 and I-29 North at U.S. 136 near Rock Port, Mo.

Iowa State Route 2 is closed from just beyond the Missouri River bridge to near I-29. This heavily used truck route is expected to remain closed indefinitely, forcing truckers onto a 121-mile detour. This route is open westbound from Nebraska City.

More information is available by calling 511 in Iowa or (800) 288-1047. Travel data is also available here.