Residents can expect to see Iowa Department of Transportation crews installing traffic counters at multiple locations throughout Muscatine beginning Sunday, July 26, through Thursday, July 30.
The annual summer traffic-counting program is part of a statewide effort to collect data on roadway use. The information helps the Iowa DOT with transportation planning, roadway maintenance, safety evaluations and future infrastructure improvements.
Crews will place small pneumatic tubes or sensor devices across or near selected roadways. The equipment records vehicles traveling through the area and collects information such as traffic volume, vehicle classification and travel patterns. Counters typically remain in place for several days to capture representative traffic conditions.
There may be brief, temporary lane impacts while the counters are installed. Once in place, the equipment should not disrupt normal traffic flow, and residents and businesses do not need to take any action.
The Iowa DOT will return later this summer to install counters at locations that were missed or could not be completed because of weather, construction or access issues.
Traffic-counting data is used to:
- Plan infrastructure improvements: Help determine when roads may need repairs, widening, bridge improvements or traffic signal changes.
- Evaluate roadway safety: Help identify areas that may need safety improvements or changes to roadway design.
- Support transportation planning: Provide data used for long-term traffic forecasting and statewide transportation reports.
For questions about traffic-counting operations, contact the Iowa DOT or the city of Muscatine Department of Public Works.
