Author Archives: Jeff

Feb 08

DOT plans to change cloverleaf at 35/30

Posted on Monday, February 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

March 25, 2010: It turns out I’ve only photographed this exit once because watching for merging traffic takes priority. There are fewer pure cloverleaf interchanges in Iowa than you might think, but two of them – I-80/I-380 and I-35/US 30 … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on DOT plans to change cloverleaf at 35/30
Feb 05

Sullivan’s corner on the Iowa-Missouri line

Posted on Friday, February 5, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Along Iowa’s southern border, a string of nearly forgotten iron posts marks where Iowa ends and Missouri begins. The westernmost marker, once the northwest corner of Missouri, is today at the southernmost point in the slightly bent line west of … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography, Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Sullivan’s corner on the Iowa-Missouri line
Feb 04

Input wanted on improving I-80

Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

If you haven’t been all focused on the caucuses, you may have noticed a few news articles about the DOT undergoing an all-encompassing study on I-80. Right now, the study is about asking for input; it’s an “online public information … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Input wanted on improving I-80
Feb 03

Smoothing out Swiss Valley Road curve

Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The point east of Peosta where US 20 angles sharply northeast toward Dubuque has been there since 20 was realigned in Dubuque County in 1959, near where the four-lane road ended at the time. In the decades since, traffic has … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Smoothing out Swiss Valley Road curve
Feb 02

Clearview is dead

Posted on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 13, 2015: The exit sign for the new US 63 interchange with IA 3 is signed in Clearview. Note the “L”s especially, and how the lowercase letters aren’t that much shorter than the capitals. The interchange replaced a four-way … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Clearview is dead
Feb 01

It’s caucusing time

Posted on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 10:02 AM by Jeff

Because of my job, I am not able to participate directly in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses. I can, however, see candidates, and I saw nearly a dozen of them in this election cycle — so many that some have dropped … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on It’s caucusing time
Jan 29

Oh look, chopped liver

Posted on Friday, January 29, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Spot the missing word: Whether you prefer to read siouxcityjournal.com on your laptop, tablet or phone, our new design gives you an optimal viewing experience tailored to your digital device of choice. Give up? It’s “desktop”. The SCJ and the Waterloo-Cedar … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Oh look, chopped liver
Jan 28

License Plate Letters — EAG

Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2016, at 10:08 AM by Jeff

September 13, 2011: Iowa’s southernmost state park, Nine Eagles, is on J66 between Davis City and Pleasanton in Decatur County. We’ve broken into the E’s.

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — EAG
Jan 27

’11 maps that explain the Iowa caucuses’

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Maps maps maps! Of course I have to link to this. The report from America magazine, a Catholic-focused publication, has county-by-county breakdowns of recent election results and what I’ll call election-adjacent information. The caucuses are one of the few times, … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on ’11 maps that explain the Iowa caucuses’
Jan 26

North Tama to play football in Des Moines metro area

Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at 10:15 AM by Jeff

North Tama’s new football district includes its southwesternmost opponents ever, extending down to a school in the village of Norwoodville. Where is Norwoodville, you ask? Well, it certainly was not a place I have mapped out in the recently updated … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on North Tama to play football in Des Moines metro area