Iowa DOT: Floods Close I-35: Skunk, Squaw Rivers Near Ames Crest

by NowPublic Staff | August 11, 2010 at 10:06 am

1885 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Iowa Floods 2010 | Iowa DOT shuts down I-35 | Iowa State Cyclones Hilton Coliseum an "Island" - Video

They are saying it is worst floods in Iowa since at least 1993. Now, the Skunk and Squaw rivers near Ames is forcing road closures, including I-35, causing the flooding of the Iowa Sate campus and other low lying areas.

Iowa State, Hilton Coliseum Flooded Photo

Record flooding is forecast along portions of the South Skunk River from the Ames area to below Colfax. This is a particularly dangerous situation and travelers need to exercise additional caution in these areas. Flooding has already resulted in the closure of U.S. 30 and I-35 near Ames.

The Iowa DOT is also making preparations to close I-80 between Mitchellville and Colfax on Thursday, if the situation warrants and river levels rise as forecast.

Iowa DOT Flood, Roads Update

Iowa state police are keeping an eye of the closed section of I-35 but it is difficult to predict when the roads will reopen.

Therefore, southbound I-35 traffic must use a detour that extends east on U.S. 30 to U.S. 65, southwest on U.S. 65 to I-80 at Altoona, and then west on I-80 to the I-35/I-80/I-235 interchange.

Northbound I-35 traffic will use the same route in reverse, from the I-35/I-80/I-235 interchange east to U.S. 65; U.S. 65 northeast to the U.S. 30 interchange; west on U.S. 30 to the I-35 northbound ramp.

The scene on the campus of Iowa State University is particularly bad at the home of Iowa State basketball, Hilton Coliseum.

Bill Fennelly, the Iowa State women's basketball coach, said he believes the court is under 8 feet of water.

"It was floating," Fennelly told Des Moines Register sports writer Randy Peterson. "It's really bad what's happening; it's sad. This is my 19th year in Ames. I can easily say that it's the worst flooding I've ever seen."