June 12, 2006: Even if IA 192 got decommissioned, the route would still work as a Business Loop I-29. This is the north end’s direct merge into the interstate.
Council Bluffs is so desperate to get water and sewer work done on West Broadway (US 6) that it’s willing to take responsibility for IA 192 (16th Street) north of there, reports the Omaha World-Herald. The article notes cities are responsible for that even on state-maintained roads.
The article also says, “What’s more, the city will take over ownership of the South Expressway between I-80 and West Broadway as part of a railroad consolidation agreement for the Interstate reconstruction project.” I think that means the south segment including a viaduct will be turned over regardless of what happens with 16th Street. In that case, IA 192’s length would be cut in half, left only with the portion that used to be US 75 on 16th Street. Transfer of that would, of course, eliminate the highway altogether.
However, interstate reconstruction in that area is still years off. There’s a state website dedicated to the project, but it sorely needs to be updated since it still says “Construction on Segment 2 is expected to begin in 2011.”
In other news, the highway commission approved the five-year plan yesterday.