Iowa DOT News

AMES, Iowa – Aviation contractors hired by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) will be performing aerial seeding and fertilizing along the state's highways as soon as the weather permits.

This method of roadside erosion control has been used by the Iowa DOT for many years because of its cost-saving benefits, ability to cover vast areas and success rate. S eed is best applied in the late winter months so that it will germinate in the spring.

The following aerial seeding projects should be completed in March.

Plymouth County – Iowa 60 from south of 212 th St. north to north of 150th St. as part of the Le Mars bypass

Osceola County – Iowa 60 from just south of 190 th St. north to just north of 120 th St. as part of the Sibley bypass

Wapello County – U.S. 34 from Stellar Ave. to east of old Agency Road

Wapello County – U.S. 36 from the intersection of U.S. 63 and Iowa 149 south and east to Stellar Ave. as part of the U.S. 63 Ottumwa bypass

You can expect to see the following.

• Flights are conducted during calm periods with winds 10 mph or less, and other suitable weather conditions.
• Ground crews supporting the airplanes will be in motor vehicles with amber lights parked along the roadside at the start and finish of each project area. These vehicles provide a visual, land-based marker to denote the boundaries of the project.
• Seed and fertilizer products will be broadcast over the roadsides from the planes. The seed is lightweight and tan in color. The fertilizer is in a granular form and white-colored.
• Operations may continue throughout the daylight hours, if conditions permit.
• Temporary road signs will be posted in the project areas denoting aerial flights are underway.
• DOT inspectors in state vehicles will be in the area during application.
• Various small aircraft models may be used. The most common model is an Ag-Cat turboprop biplane, typically painted yellow. These planes are equipped with hoppers to disperse the materials and normally carry only the pilot.
• Planes fly 30 to 100 feet above the ground and travel at speeds ranging from 60 to 100 mph.
• The aircraft will make several passes over the same area during the application process. The planes will take off and land periodically to load materials. Their landing sites may include local airports, area landing strips, and county roads and state highways with low traffic volumes. Ground crews, including flaggers, will provide traffic control during the landings and takeoffs. The planes will be on the ground for only brief periods of time.

For more information on the DOT's statewide aerial erosion control projects, contact Ole Skaar with the department's roadside development section at
515-290-9991 or [email protected]. After Friday, Feb. 15, contact Mark Masteller at 515-239-1424 or [email protected].