Author Archives: Jeff

Oct 17

Photo 36,000

October 11, 2017: A milestone in American history at the tip of Cape Cod. This milestone photo has extra significance besides being at a historic monument. I have an ancestor who was on the Mayflower. Some backfill from another event made … Continue reading

Posted in Sequences, Trip Reports | Comments Off on Photo 36,000
Oct 16

GMG has the helmets, but not the headcount

Almost three weeks ago, KCCI had a story about GMG having state-of-the-art helmets for its football team. (Video with story, un-embeddable. Also check out GMG’s new gym. Well, almost-decade-old gym.) But high-tech helmets don’t provide any protection from being a tiny … Continue reading

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on GMG has the helmets, but not the headcount
Oct 15

Interstate 880 coming to Iowa!?!

July 24, 2019: For a limited time only The fall meeting of the AASHTO Special Committee on Route Numbering, which took place Oct. 5, has a doozy of a bombshell. Immediate reaction: W.T.F. Item No. 5 – State: Iowa Route: I-880 Action: … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Interstate 880 coming to Iowa!?!
Oct 14

Youngville interchange won’t open until next year

Weather has slowed down construction of the US 30/218 interchange in Benton County and it’s not going to open until next year, KCRG reported last week. The five-year plan had all the construction set in fiscal 2018 but it has … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Youngville interchange won’t open until next year
Oct 11

Minnesota drops two spur routes

 2017 Iowa map Minnesota turned over MN 253 and MN 254 to Faribault County on Oct. 1. Both of these routes ran south of I-90, to Bricelyn and Frost, respectively. Minnesota still has spur routes going to not just small … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Minnesota drops two spur routes
Oct 10

Submarine Veterans Highway dedication Monday

The Submarine Veterans Highway, running from the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown to the State Capitol, will be dedicated Monday. The Marshalltown Times-Republican has more. A Marshalltown native died when a submarine sank off the coast of New Hampshire in 1939. … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Submarine Veterans Highway dedication Monday
Oct 09

The core dilemma for rural revitalization

This story from Stateline/Pew Charitable Trusts about disappearing rural grocery stores is mostly about areas with lower population density than Iowa, but there’s some Iowa stuff in here. An important quote comes from Drake University’s Jennifer Zwagerman: “How do you … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The core dilemma for rural revitalization
Oct 08

Website does everything my booklet did — statewide

Obviously, I need to write something about this. I haven’t had time to. But I did want to put the story up before it got too much older.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Schools, Sports | Comments Off on Website does everything my booklet did — statewide
Oct 06

How old is Olde Davenport Road?

The Iowa DOT says that Olde Davenport Road’s connection to US 61/151 will be closed permanently this week, and a month later, the new interchange between 61/151 and the Southwest Arterial will open. (The Southwest Arterial itself, however, will not … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on How old is Olde Davenport Road?
Oct 04

Final part of Sioux City I-29 project removes original concrete

The first segment of interstate highway to open in Iowa was not signed as an interstate highway. Recent research from Jason Hancock has revealed that when the Combination Bridge interchange in Sioux City opened at the end of 1957, there … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Final part of Sioux City I-29 project removes original concrete