Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 21

Swan to disincorporate

Posted on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

September 30, 2014: Swan, in far northwest Marion County, was bypassed by the state highway system when what today is IA 5 was realigned in 1928. The IA 316 bridge over the Des Moines River at Runnells was decades in … Continue reading →

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Apr 14

Pi Day, delayed

Posted on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Pie is always in season, not just March 14! Pi Day in Springville is a local holiday.

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Pi Day, delayed
Apr 14

Colona-oscopy

Posted on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In Sunday’s print Des Moines Register, on the “Around the State” page, there was this curious item: In a page that is about stories from the state of Iowa, the Register ran a brief from a city in ILLINOIS — … Continue reading →

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Apr 10

Iowa, Louisiana

Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

I’m a bit behind on linking my Substack posts from here — long story. But many of them are not too time-specific. (And those that are, well, they’re still worth reading!) Here is my travel story from Iowa, Louisiana, which … Continue reading →

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Apr 08

Boyson Road ramps close

Posted on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT says in a press release that the southbound ramps on I-380 to/from Boyson Road close starting today and lasting until July 4. Center Point Road will be used for the connection. This KCRG story from Sept. 29, … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Boyson Road ramps close
Apr 07

A note on toll roads

Posted on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

The Gazette’s centerpiece last Monday was “Why doesn’t Iowa have toll roads?”. It starts out: “Thirty-six U.S. states have toll roads, including Iowa’s neighbors Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois.” Nebraska and Missouri do not have toll roads. Nebraska has two … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A note on toll roads
Apr 01

Windsor Heights got a Casey’s

Posted on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

You might think that news about a Des Moines suburb getting another gas station isn’t too notable, but in this case, I found something. Land was cleared last fall for a Casey’s at the northeast corner of University Avenue and … Continue reading →

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Mar 28

AWE open house April 4

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A longtime Traer business is celebrating 20 years at its “new” location on the east edge of town. AWE moved from the auto shop addition at the north-side gas station to the Vokoun Co. site in 2005. The business is … Continue reading →

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Mar 24

Jinx

Posted on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Don’t do this again, ISU Alumni Association. Even if it means you have to wait to send the message until 10 PM Sunday. (Due to work, I observed the score at halftime and then did not observe again.) PS: How … Continue reading →

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Mar 24

Major overnight closures on I-35/80 this week

Posted on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

This week, the western third or so of the I-35/80 multiplex in the Des Moines suburbs will close from 11 PM to 4 AM. The closures are needed for converting the Hickman Road exit into a diverging diamond interchange. The … Continue reading →

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