Starting next month, the westbound exit from Interstate 80 to Dubuque Street will be closed because of construction.

The closure will create disruption for university-bound traffic and will continue to be closed during the Hawkeye spring football game and commencement weekend.

The project is expected to begin March 31, and the exit ramp will be closed starting April 8, if weather permits. Dubuque Street itself will be reduced to one of lane of traffic going in each direction from Linder Road north of the freeway to Foster Road to the south.

The eastbound exit at Dubuque Street ramp will remain open throughout the project, and Dubuque Street will remain fully open in front of Mayflower. However, access could occasionally be restricted by construction activities and traffic backups.

The westbound traffic exiting Interstate 80 will be diverted to the First Avenue exit in Coralville. The detour will provide traffic to return to Dubuque Street on the eastbound lanes of the street’s exit.

The Dodge Street exit will also be available as an alternate route to campus.

Early June is the expected completion date for the construction project.

— by Rebecca Morin