Westbound I-80 Closures Begin April 8 in West Des Moines

Nighttime lane reconfigurations will impact travel between the Southwest Mixmaster and Grand Prairie Parkway

Apr. 4, 2026 at 9:33am

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A bold, highly geometric composition in shades of blue, gray, and gold depicting the towering overpasses and forced perspectives of a major highway interchange, capturing the grand scale and sweeping motion of the roadways without any literal depiction of vehicles or people.An imposing, Art Deco-inspired illustration of the complex highway interchange where westbound I-80 meets the Southwest Mixmaster in West Des Moines, setting the stage for upcoming lane closures.West Des Moines Today

The Iowa Department of Transportation has announced upcoming nighttime closures of westbound Interstate 80 between the Southwest Mixmaster (I-35/I-80/I-235) and Grand Prairie Parkway (Exit 118) in West Des Moines. The closures will take place on select nights starting April 8 to allow crews to reconfigure the traffic lanes.

Why it matters

These closures will impact travel for commuters and long-distance drivers heading westbound on I-80 through the Des Moines metro area. Drivers will need to plan ahead and follow the posted detour routes to avoid delays.

The details

Westbound I-80 will be closed from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the following nights: Wednesday, April 8 to Thursday, April 9; Thursday, April 9 to Friday, April 10; and Sunday, April 12 to Monday, April 13. Drivers traveling west on I-235 who want to reach westbound I-80 will need to exit at 50th Street, turn onto University Avenue, and then take Grand Prairie Parkway to access I-80. Northbound I-35 drivers will need to exit at University Avenue and then take Grand Prairie Parkway to reach westbound I-80.

  • Westbound I-80 will be closed from 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 to 5 a.m. on Thursday, April 9.
  • Westbound I-80 will be closed from 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 to 5 a.m. on Friday, April 10.
  • Westbound I-80 will be closed from 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 12 to 5 a.m. on Monday, April 13.

The players

Iowa Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for managing and maintaining Iowa's transportation infrastructure, including Interstate 80.

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The takeaway

Drivers in the Des Moines metro area should plan ahead and follow the posted detour routes to avoid delays during the upcoming nighttime closures of westbound I-80 between the Southwest Mixmaster and Grand Prairie Parkway.