Interstate 29 has reopened — with some restrictions — from the Glenwood, Iowa, interchange to 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 announcement of the reopening. Officials had targeted June for the reopening, then recently moved up the schedule to Memorial Day.
The reopening covers the route from U.S. Highway 34 near Glenwood to the Missouri border. The Missouri Department of Transportation also reopened the interstate from the border to St. Joseph.
Even so, officials said drivers can expect occasional lane closures and head-to-head traffic for one 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, 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.
Drivers can check current closures at www.news.iowadot.gov and www.511.nebraska.gov.
