Old 34 to be widened in Montgomery County

It’s been more than half a century since County Road H34 from Hastings to Corning was US 34, but it’s still “old Highway 34” to the locals, and this spring it’s going to lose part of its old-ness.

The Red Oak Express reports that five miles of pavement on H34 will be widened from 18 to 22 feet, maybe starting as early as April.

The roadbed is probably unchanged from its original paving in 1928-30, given the quote from Montgomery County engineer Brad Skinner in the story. “If we took it down to a concrete road surface, we’d have to re-grade all the road sides, and bring it up to current grading standards,” he told the Express. That tells me the concrete-lipped “Iowa curbs” remain under the asphalt, and this project will overlay whatever remains visible today. It might also wipe out whatever shoulder is available, though.

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