After two months of closure, U.S. Highway 169 is open to traffic once again.

The highway closed in mid-September as the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) planned for multiple resurfacing projects between U.S. Highway 169 and Iowa Highway 175.

“The work completed on U.S. 169 was a Portland Cement Concrete Overlay (PCC Overlay),” said Jenny Hoskins, a resident construction engineer for the Iowa Department of Transportation. “The work is like an asphalt overlay, the difference being the time needed for the material to be ready to support traffic.”

According to Hoskins, for asphalt, the material needs to cool off to be firm enough to support traffic load without rutting. Portland cement needs to harden and obtain a measured strength necessary to support traffic without being damaged. This typically requires several days to achieve.

Despite changing fall weather, equipment issues, and a motorcycle that drove through wet cement, Hoskins said the project went well and was only over schedule by a few days.

“The past few weeks have gone very well,” said Hoskins. “The primary contractor, Croell, Inc., was very organized in scheduling all their subcontractors to complete the remaining work after the paving was complete. There were some issues with one of the subcontractors’ equipment, but it did not delay the opening of the roadway.”

According to Hoskins, all the other contractors were able to continue moving forward. Barricades were removed on Friday.