August 1, 2015: This sign on northbound South Expressway at the 30th Avenue intersection has been modified to green-out the middle section indicating IA 192. Photo by Jason Hancock.
In the Transportation Commission minutes for this month was a curious item: “Transfer of Jurisdiction – Iowa 192 Council Bluffs.”
IA 192 had been killed off once before, in 1975. It was then resurrected in 1980. It took a multi-stage process in the 2010s to decommission the route for good: The north half legally in May 2016 and signage-wise in December 2016; the south half legally in December 2017 and signage-wise in May 2018.
But, as it turns out, the section of road under the expanded I-29/80 dual divided freeway remained under state control until now. The 1981 route description had the official south end at “the south ramp of Interstate 29 and 80 and Piute Street”. Piute Street isn’t on the map today, but it has to be 30th Avenue, which turns into Manawa Center Drive as it curves by the Red Roof Inn. The 0.4-mile segment from there under the interstate to about the non-intersection of 26th Avenue is what was turned over this month.
If the DOT can be this meticulous about turning over roads that were once fully signed, why does IA 368 still exist?