November 21, 2012: Well, this sign on new 20 didn’t last long. It will be replaced with one reading “North 71 South 471 / Storm Lake / Early”.
Iowa Highway 196 probably died today. [OR NOT: see bottom] The highway running north from US 71/IA 175 to the new US 20 east was undergoing reconstruction all year, to make way for US 71 to take over its route and then follow US 20 to Early. The detour originally projected to end the day before Thanksgiving was extended to Christmas Eve.
Taking over old 71 from Early south to IA 175 will be a new number, IA 471. It will be by far the highest-signed number in the field in Iowa, overtaking IA 415. I disagree with the decision, since Iowa has plenty of two-digit numbers sitting around unused, including every one in the 40’s except 44 and 48. IA 36 was nearby in Wall Lake. But it does provide a continuity of sorts with US 71, and that’ll aid the GPSs that don’t get updated.
Since it’s a new designation, by my rules, I now haven’t traveled every highway in Iowa. I’ll also need to go sometime and get pictures at both ends of the new highway, of course — a highway that’s two hours farther away from me than it used to be.
UPDATE 12/28: Jason Hancock says the construction report now says the road will be open during the winter but permanent pavement on the shoulders won’t be done until next spring, possibly delaying the change in signs.