New interchanges at Meredith Drive and Iowa Highway 141 opened today along Interstate Highway 80 in Urbandale, providing access to 700 acres of commercial and industrial ground. To commemorate the openings, the Urbandale City Council recently approved use of a privately funded searchlight to call attention to the transportation investments. The searchlight will be on for seven days, from dusk until about 10 p.m. “Urbandale appreciates the many years of collaboration and problem solving with our state, federal and local partners that have led to this success,” Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg said in a news release. The new flyover ramp replaces a loop exit ramp that could no longer accommodate the more than 100,000 vehicles traveling daily through what’s now called the Urban Loop. The interchange at Meredith Drive is a direct point of access to the growing commercial and residential areas in Urbandale, which is served by seven Interstate Highway 35/80 interchanges.