Lang
12/9/23
Federal funding has been approved to help pay for expanding Interstate 380 north of Swisher to six lanes.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the $57.3 million in infrastructure funding will complete the $112 million projected to complete the project, which will also include improvements to the I-380/Wright Brothers Boulevard interchange. The rest of the money will come from state, Cedar Rapids and other federal funding.
Bids for the project are being taken through mid-2024, with construction starting as soon as late next summer. Construction is expected to be completed sometime in 2027.
The Wright Brothers Boulevard exits…which are the gateway to the Eastern Iowa Airport…will be upgraded to a “diverging diamond” interchange, similar to the one currently being built at I-80 and 1st Avenue in Coralville. The Transportation Research Record says such interchanges have shown to reduce all crashes by 46%, and virtually eliminate left-turn crashes.