6 News rides along with Iowa DOT on closed interstates

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. (WOWT) - To keep drivers safe, Iowa Department of Transportation traffic engineer Austin Yates and his team closed Interstates 29 and 680.

“I understand that you will see a lot of dry pavement, but one of the things we incorporate when we make our decision of where and when to close is we want to close where we can keep people at a good spot to divert to other routes,” said Yates.

Yates took 6 News to see what the roads look like Thursday.

Sixteen miles of I-29 and all three miles in Iowa of I-680 are closed, because drivers will encounter water over the interstate.

“You very rapidly would get into an amount of water that would stop your car and crash you,” said Yates.

By the Mormon Bridge over the Missouri River, you would not be able to go very far. Near the I-29/I-680 interchange, the on and off ramps are swallowed by river water. Further north by Honey Creek, a boat rather than a car would be better suited for the lanes.

“We know just based on the river level observations and the forecast, we closed as late as we could and we’re looking forward to reopening as soon as we can.”

With 40,000 people driving the roads every day, their goal is to get them open by early next week.

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