You must be a full digital subscriber to read this article
You must be a digital subscriber to view this article.
We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
You must be a full digital subscriber to read this article
You must be a digital subscriber to view this article.
Your sports-only digital subscription does not include access to this section.
Upgrade to full digital for only $3 extra per month. If you need assistance, call us at (844) 466-1452 or e-mail owhdigital@ggl.bhmginc.com.
To start a new subscription or to add digital access to your print subscription, click Sign Up to join Subscriber Plus.
Signs mark the direction of the highways running through Auburn, Nebraska. Since Interstate 29 was closed because of flood damage, traffic on U.S. Highway 75 has increased from 4,000 vehicles to about 9,000 on a typical day but is as high as 16,000 on some days, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Part of I-29 has reopened, with some restrictions. Officials said drivers south of Council Bluffs can expect lane closures over one 1-mile stretch.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Signs mark the direction of the highways running through Auburn, Nebraska. Since Interstate 29 was closed because of flood damage, traffic on U.S. Highway 75 has increased from 4,000 vehicles to about 9,000 on a typical day but is as high as 16,000 on some days, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Interstate 29 has reopened — with some restrictions — from the Glenwood, Iowa, interchange to Missouri.
All lanes of I-29 also opened Wednesday morning in northwest Missouri.
The stretch of Interstate has been closed since March floods damaged the highway, cutting off the major north-south route and the main highway passage from the Omaha metro area to Kansas City.
But construction crews have made steady progress on repairs, leading to Wednesday morning’s announcements of the reopenings. Officials had targeted June for the reopening in Iowa, then recently moved up the schedule to Memorial Day.
The reopening in Iowa covers the route from U.S. Highway 34 near Glenwood to the Missouri border. I-29 north of Council Bluffs remains closed between the Crescent and Loveland interchanges.
Drivers south of Council Bluffs can expect occasional lane closures and head-to-head traffic for 1 mile over a southbound bridge at mile marker 8.5, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
For now, no oversized or overweight loads will be allowed, officials said.
But many smaller towns in Nebraska will welcome losing some of the traffic that’s been diverted to smaller highways south of the Omaha area, including U.S. Highway 75.
Residents have complained about the loud, heavy traffic and speeding from traffic that had doubled or tripled with I-29 closed.
Some other adjacent highways along the route remain closed.
That includes the U.S. Highway 34 connection between I-29 and Bellevue.
Iowa Highway 2 is open to eastbound traffic off Interstate 29 and has access to traveler services.
Please keep it clean, turn off CAPS LOCK and don't threaten
anyone. Be truthful, nice and proactive. And share with us - we
love to hear eyewitness accounts.
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(1) comment
Great news for all travelers!! Iowa does and did a great job getting 680 opened quickly and efficiently back in 2011 from the floods.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Please keep it clean, turn off CAPS LOCK and don't threaten anyone. Be truthful, nice and proactive. And share with us - we love to hear eyewitness accounts.