Ames Public Works

08/11/2026

Ever wonder how the City decides which streets get repaired and which need to be completely rebuilt?

In the latest episode of Ames in Focus, Bill Gebhart sits down with Municipal Engineer Mindy Bryngelson to explore the science and strategy behind maintaining Ames' streets. Learn how new pavement data technology helps prioritize projects, why road work happens when it does, and what it takes to keep Ames moving safely for years to come.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.CityofAmes.org/Podcast

07/29/2026

07/25/2026

Find your next bargain today or this week!

07/17/2026

One Day Closure on Hyland Ave for Paving

🚧 Hyland Avenue Closure – Monday, July 20 🚧

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, Hyland Avenue will be closed to all through traffic** while crews complete paving operations.

The roadway is expected to reopen by the end of the day with single-lane alternating traffic.

If you're traveling in the area on Monday, please plan ahead and use South Dakota Avenue or Grand Avenue as alternate routes.

Thank you for your patience as we complete these improvements and help keep our roads in good condition.

07/17/2026

While Ames is not an official overnight or pass-through host this year, thousands of RAGBRAI riders will be traveling from Boone to Marshalltown on Wednesday, July 22, passing right along the north side of Ames.

Riders will travel south on Hwy 69 to Riverside Road, east to North Dayton Ave, north to 190th St, and east toward Nevada.

The route opens at 6 a.m. Riders are expected to be out of nearby Gilbert by 1 p.m.

Hwy 69, Riverside Rd, and North Dayton Ave are anticipated to fully reopen to normal traffic by 3 p.m.

Expect delays, plan ahead, and please keep an extra close eye out for cyclists on the roads throughout the day!

07/16/2026

Lane Closures on Bloomington Road starting Friday, July 17

🚧The northbound right-turn lane on Bloomington Road from G.W. Carver will close tomorrow morning and reopen Tuesday, July 21.

Large vehicles may have difficulty maneuvering through the intersection with this closure.

The inside lane for westbound traffic on Bloomington Road will also close for this work, which is for the maintenance of water valves in the intersection.

🚧The Bloomington Road closure east of Stange Rd. is currently planned to be reopened by next Wednesday, July 22nd.

07/08/2026

🚧 TRAFFIC UPDATE – S. Walnut Ave & S. 3rd Street 🚧

Beginning Wednesday morning, the City of Ames Water Division will be returning to the intersection of S. Walnut Avenue and S. 3rd Street after discovering an additional leaking water valve that requires repair.

🚗 Traffic Impacts
Eastbound S. 3rd Street will be closed to vehicle traffic east of S. Walnut Avenue beginning Wednesday morning.

🚧All other traffic movements through the intersection will remain open.The roadway is expected to be fully reopened by Friday afternoon.

🚧Please follow all posted traffic control devices and use caution when traveling through the area.

🚲 Bicycle Impacts
The eastbound bike lane on the south side of S. 3rd Street will be closed through the work area.
Bicyclists should follow posted signage and use caution when navigating around the closure.

💧 Water Service
No water service interruptions are anticipated during this work.

Thank you for your patience as crews complete these necessary repairs to maintain and improve the City's water infrastructure

07/06/2026

🚧 Shared Use Path Maintenance – Wednesday, July 8 🚧

Our Maintenance Crew will be performing maintenance on the shared use path between the Ames High School parking lot and the pool on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

Path users may experience temporary, short-term closures while work is underway. Please use caution in the area, follow any posted signs, and consider an alternate routes.

07/06/2026

If you have water-damaged items, here are some disposal options.

Do you have flood damage from the weekend storms? Here are some suggestions for disposal of damaged items.

• Contact your private trash hauler for pick-up and disposal.
• Haul items to Resource Recovery, 110 Chantland Ave., for disposal. (Use the driveway on the north side of the building.)

For Resource Recovery disposal, the fees are listed at https://www.cityofames.org/My-Government/Departments/Resource-Recovery-System/Rates

Please note that Resource Recovery accepts payment in cash, check, debit, and most major credit cards.

Resource Recovery is open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Story County Emergency Management is asking residents with damage to complete a reporting form to support the application for a Governor's Disaster Proclamation that could lead to a Federal Disaster Proclamation.

Access the damage reporting form: https://ia-state.orioncentral.com/SelfReporter

07/05/2026

🚦 Traffic Signal Software Upgrades Coming Next Week🚦

Next week, the City of Ames Public Works Department and our traffic signal vendors will be upgrading software on most of the City's traffic signal controllers.

During the upgrades, some intersections may temporarily operate as **four-way flashing red** intersections. We will schedule the work outside of peak travel times whenever possible, and any disruptions should be brief.

**If you encounter a flashing red signal:**
🔴 Treat it like a four-way stop.
🚗 Come to a complete stop.
➡️ The first vehicle to stop has the right-of-way.
↔️ If vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the right goes first.
🚶 Watch for pedestrians and cyclists before proceeding.

Why the upgrades?
These updates are the next step toward **adaptive traffic signals**, which use real-time traffic data to automatically adjust signal timing. The goal is to improve traffic flow, reduce unnecessary stops, and shorten delays.

And yes... we know some of you feel like you hit every red light. 😄 While we can't promise you'll never stop at another one, these upgrades are helping make travel through Ames smoother, smarter, and more efficient.

Thank you for your patience as we continue investing in a safer and more connected transportation system.