Officially, US 34 between Chariton and Albia has been closed to thru traffic since April 27 for a concrete overlay. The construction is from Albia west to near the Melrose corner.
The detour runs up IA 14 to Knoxville, then down IA 5 to Albia. The only paved cutoff that would shave time off that is G76 in southern Marion County.