Major Iowa highway destroyed; rebuild to take months

DES MOINES, Iowa — Truckers used to driving through Iowa on the I-680 better make other plans for the next six months. A four-mile stretch has been "obliterated," according to local news reports.

As floodwaters recede from several highways in Iowa, epic damage has been revealed.

Specifically, a stretch on I-680 at the I-29 interchange down to the Missouri River looks as if it was shelled with rockets. Much of the pavement has buckled into large chunks making it impassable.

Closures include I-29 from mile 55 to mile 71, and I-680 miles zero to three.

Everything south of U.S. 34 is closed to the Missouri state line.

"I’ve never seen anything like it," John Haas, director of Statewide Emergency Operations told local media. "I don’t think any of engineers have either."

It’s unlikely the road will be rebuilt before next year.

According to reports there are still many other roadways submerged in water, meaning more damage throughout the state’s transportation system will be discovered.