Cedar Falls Police Urge Driver Safety on Hwy 58

With Highway 58 continuing to be under construction per the Iowa Department of Transportation, Cedar Falls Police have been responding to an increased number of traffic collisions in the southbound area, south of Viking Road.

Due to the construction, the traffic pattern is currently head-to-head and reduced to the southbound lane. With the reduced travel lanes, cars have been approaching the construction area at a high rate of speed causing rear-end accidents to increase. Injuries have been reported in the two most recent collisions.

Rear-end accidents cause a chain reaction, typically involving multiple vehicles. When this occurs, officers must shut down all Southbound 58 south of Viking and it is difficult to get emergency vehicles to the scene of the incident. Drivers who are caught behind the accident have no way of getting around the incident until the damaged vehicles can be moved.

The current traffic pattern is expected to continue until approximately July 15, 2024. It will then switch to the northbound side but will remain one lane, head-to-head traffic.

With the construction, high traffic times can cause vehicles to wait up to three light cycles before getting through the intersection. To avoid this and decrease congestion in the construction area, Cedar Falls Police are urging the public to consider alternate routes including Hudson Road, Cedar Heights/Deere Road, and Hwy 63. Police remind the public to slow down in construction areas and ensure there is adequate distance between you and the car in front of you. Drivers should always avoid distractions while behind the wheel, slow down when approaching emergency vehicles, and yield to emergency vehicles.