Author Archives: Jeff

Nov 12

Two diverging diamonds proposed for I-380

The plans for last week’s meeting about expanding I-380 to six lanes between US 30 and I-80 are online (south PDF, north PDF, handout). Stories: Gazette, KGAN. The most notable part of the proposal is diverging diamonds at the County … Continue reading

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Nov 11

Iowa’s last two Kmarts will close

Weeks ago, USA Today reported that more Sears and Kmart stores would be closing in the future, but did not have information about which ones. Now we know that whatever’s left of the shambles of Sears/Kmart won’t include Iowa. KCHA … Continue reading

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Nov 08

Iowa-Wisconsin game preview

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Nov 07

IA 333: The hot-potato highway

October 2, 2015: The beginning of IA 333 as seen from an I-29 offramp. The entire route, along with the town of Hamburg, was underwater in the spring of 2019. The Great Decommissioning of 1980 was the end result of … Continue reading

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Nov 06

IA 999: The untold story (5)

Looking at state maps in the early 1970s, it seems clear-cut. IA 333 runs from the Fremont/Page county line to 71, there’s a secret designation for the route to College Springs, and the absence of a 333 marker east of … Continue reading

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Nov 05

IA 999: The untold story (4)

Southern Page County did its damnedest to put itself on a paved path to prosperity. The Highway 333 Association formed in the summer of 1959 with the goal of getting the road from US 275 near Hamburg to US 71 … Continue reading

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Nov 04

IA 999: The untold story (3)

On the official state transportation map, the highway on the corner of Iowa’s floor was stable for 20 years. There was only one change to IA 333 marked between 1943 and 1964: It was straightened to miss College Springs and … Continue reading

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Nov 01

IA 999: The untold story (2)

This excerpt of Missouri football’s 1897 schedule from the 2017 football records book shows one of two games played at Amity College. The meeting appears to be part of a barnstorming tour; the Tigers’ game in College Springs comes three days … Continue reading

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Oct 31

IA 999: The untold story (1)

For decades, the Iowa Highway Commission wanted to get rid of it. For decades, residents of southern Page County begged the state to pave it. Iowa Highway 999 was both an offshoot of and substitute for Iowa Highway 333, and … Continue reading

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Oct 30

I-380 public meeting Nov. 6

The Iowa DOT is holding a meeting next Tuesday (Nov. 6) in North Liberty to “discuss an Interstate 380 corridor study”. The notice mentions six-laning the interstate between I-80 and US 30 (years too late) and “interchange improvements.” At the … Continue reading

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