FORT MADISON, IOWA -- Iowa Department of Transportation officials have tried to get the Fort Madison bypass open for the last several days, but mother nature hasn't cooperated.

And now, the Iowa DOT and the Lee County Highway Department says it looks like it will be next Monday or Tuesday before the new Fort Madison bypass is open to traffic.

The new stretch of highway was supposed to open on Tuesday, but rainy weather prevented that from happening.

Workers need about three hours of dry weather to peel off the temporary stripping and put down the permanent stripping to direct traffic to the proper lane usage.