Iowa DOT adding more digital signs on I-380, Highway 30

CEDAR RAPIDS - Motorists on Interstate 380 and Highway 30 will soon encounter more information on their commutes - whether they want it or not.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is installing five new digital message signs - two on Highway 30 and three on Interstate 380 - said Cathy Cutler, a transportation planner with the DOT's Cedar Rapids District 6 office.

"It's a way to reach out to the traveling public and get high level important information to a lot of people," Cutler said.

The digital signs will be similar to the sign mounted overhead across I-380 near Wilson Avenue.

Iowa has been expanding the use of the digital signs across the state. The Iowa DOT has 68 overhead mounted signs and another 52 digital signs mounted to shoulders along interstates and highways, said Tim Simodyness, of the DOT's intelligent transportation systems department.

The locations are strategically selected to convey the right information to the most people, Cutler said. The digital signs are used to pass along information about traffic back ups, weather concerns, road conditions, detours or emergencies, such as Amber Alerts, Cutler said.

The DOT also has received national attention for conveying safety awareness through humorous, snarky messages as part of the Zero Fatalities Campaign's Message Mondays. Some examples include, 'Get your head out of your apps,” and 'Not Buckled? You're Killing Me, Smalls,” a movie reference from the 1993 movie, 'The Sandlot.”

Motorists have mixed reactions to the signs. Generally, people seem supportive, saying they're informative, but others find the signs distracting.

"I think they are helpful," said Brian Textor of Iowa City. "They are really big, which could distract people, but they are easy to see from far away."

Mike Allison, a trucker from Shell Rock, said it is helpful to spread the message quickly in the case of a child abduction, and also inform drivers to seek an alternate route due to a traffic accident or bad weather. He said last winter he was able to avoid a major traffic back up due to an icy bridge in Cedar Rapids by seeing the message and detouring on local roads.

Mary Bandeson of Cottage Grove, Minn., said the signs are more of a distraction than a help. She said when driving by herself she doesn't have time to process the information along with keeping track of the various other road signs.

"You don't really have time to read it, so it is a distraction," Bandeson said. 

Cutler said acknowledged there's some objections to the signs, but they are designed to be in the line of sight looking straight ahead. They also contain a concise message over a few lines of text to minimize the interruption.

Concrete pads to hold the new signs in Cedar Rapids were poured last fall. The DOT has the digital displays on hand, but there's a back order on the trusses to hoist the signs, which have delayed completion of the project, Cutler said.

Voltmer Inc. of Decorah is completing the project for $755,268.

Two of the new signs will be located near the 29th Street bridge on I-380. One will be a replacement of an existing sign and the other will be new.

Other sign locations include north of the 76th Avenue SW overpass along I-380, and on Highway 30, east of Jappa Road and east of the 151/13 junction, according to information from John Vu, an engineer with the DOT district six office.