Summer construction has arrived, creating an array of closures and detours throughout the Ames area.
A few of the projects include bridge construction to expand Highway 30, the widening of a street outside Jack Trice Stadium, and general city roadwork.
Here are the different construction projects taking place in Ames right now:
Reconstructing Stange Road
Stange Road is being reconstructed from Blankenburg Drive to 13th Street in an Iowa State University-led and managed project. Work will include a new concrete road, street lighting, storm sewer improvements, and a new sidewalk on both sides of Stange Road.
Reconstruction was necessary due to the age and condition of Stange Road, Iowa State manager of construction projects, Nathan Graves said.
The northbound lane of Stange Road is currently closed to traffic, with detours directing vehicles to head east to Grand Avenue.
Construction is expected to finish on Aug. 29, a few days after the fall semester begins at Iowa State on Aug. 25.
Temporary bridge work on Highway 30
A pair of bridges are being built on Highway 30 as part of a $35.4 million project that will expand a portion of the highway to six lanes in Ames.
As the project’s first phase, a temporary bridge was built in the median over the South Skunk River for vehicles to use while the bridges are replaced over the next three years. Work started in February and the temporary bridge is now complete. The grading contractor is almost finished with the grading work on the outside of Highway 30 in both directions, Iowa DOT District 1 Construction Engineer Scott Nixon said.
The contractor will soon begin work on temporary lanes in the median next to the existing westbound lanes.
“All the grading on the outsides, temporary lanes and bridge in the median are all in preparation for a paving project that is scheduled for next year,” Nixon said. “That project will replace the bridge and build the new additional lane in the eastbound direction.”
The first phase is anticipated to be finished by late fall.
Eastbound traffic will use the temporary structure in 2026 as the bridge on the south side of the highway is reconstructed. Westbound traffic will travel over the yet-to-be-finished structure in 2027 when the northside bridge is rebuilt.
Expanding S. 16th Street to four lanes
Construction for the $4 million South 16th Street widening project began June 17, the first phase to widen the road to four lanes from University Boulevard to the Veterinary Medicine Trail, near the south entrance of Jack Trice Stadium.
Traffic during construction be reduced to one lane in each direction from Apple Place to west of South Riverside Drive. The shared-use path along South 16th Street will be closed.
The project is being done over two construction seasons to accommodate the Iowa State University academic calendar and football season. Substantial completion of the first phase is anticipated by Aug. 22, and the second phase is scheduled for substantial completion by Aug. 21, 2026.
The project also includes the extension of storm sewer infrastructure along South 16th Street, the addition of curb and gutter and a new multi-use trail along the north and south of the street.
Drivers will still have access to the ISU Veterinary Medicine buildings throughout the project.
A $2.1M project will reshape Hyland Avenue
Hyland Avenue is undergoing a four-phase reconstruction project, costing $2.1 million. Work includes pavement replacement, utility improvements and construction of a new shared-use path along the road’s west side.
The full project will include three stages of pavement replacement from Ontario Street to Pammel Drive, as well as patching and rehabilitation at select locations between Pammel Drive and Lincoln Way.
Existing bike lanes on Hyland Avenue from Ontario Street to Oakland Street will be removed from the roadway and relocated to a new shared-use path along the west side of Hyland Avenue.
Construction began on May 19 and is expected to be completed by fall.
Campustown road improvements
A two-year construction project on Welch Avenue in Campustown is scheduled to wrap up later this year.
The work addresses the roadway’s failing structural elements, like pavement deterioration and drainage issues. Additionally, the sanitary sewer and water mains are undersized for the area’s growth and will be enlarged.
The project’s final stage involves surfacing improvements for the Chamberlain Street alleyway between Hunt Street and Chamberlain.
The scheduled completion date is Aug. 22.
Highway 30 is closed east of Ogden
Highway 30 from the Greene County/Boone County line east to Ogden closed Monday, June 16, so a concrete overlay can be placed on the roadway. A portion of nearby Highway 169 will also be closed.
The intersection of the highways will also be reconstructed to add an eastbound left-turn lane from Highway 30 to northbound Highway 169. The project will also expand the right-turn lane from westbound Highway 30 to northbound Highway 169.
Highway traffic will follow a marked detour route that uses Highway 169, Boone/Greene County Road E-57, Iowa 144 and Boone/Greene County Road E-26.
The closure is expected to last until Aug. 15.
Stabilizing of Ioway Creek at Brookside
The City of Ames is addressing erosion along Ioway Creek in Brookside Park. Stabilizing the streambank will reduce erosion, save trees and habitat and improve the creek’s water quality.
The project will add instream rock features, relocate approximately 500 feet of the creek, extend the sewer, and add vegetation.
The first phase, which began on June 16, includes the installation of instream rock features in two locations − between 13th Street and the north pedestrian bridge, and between the south pedestrian bridge and 6th Street. This phase is expected to take one month to complete.
Portions of the Brookside shared-use trail will be closed throughout the project. Users are encouraged to navigate west through the park to Haber Road and then north to 13th Street.
All shelters, parking lots and ballfields in the park will remain open during construction.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Summer construction has arrived in Ames. Here are the projects you should be aware of:
Reporting by Celia Brocker, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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