BUSINESS
NORTH End: Interchange, US 18/218/IA 27 and B35, Floyd County
Facing west, but heading north, on Business 218 (10/4/16)
There are no signs for the end of Business 218 at either end. This picture is taken at an intersection where a road goes to the north, the southernmost part of which is old 18/218.
Facing west, but heading north, on Business 218 (10/4/16)
Facing west, but heading north, on Business 218 (10/4/16)
For maps of highway changes in the Charles City area, see this image.
Facing south on 218, but heading east on 18 (3/22/03 and 9/2/00)
Right photo by Jason Hancock
This exit number corresponds to US 18, as the lower number takes precedence on duplexes, and east of I-35 the numbers work up as 18 goes east. After 18 leaves the Avenue of the Saints, you're going south on 218, so the numbers start working back down.
When Jason traveled the bypass in September 2000, the interchange was not open yet; the orange tab says "Use Next Exit."
Facing south on 218, but heading east on 18 (7/31/05)
Facing south at the SB offramp (10/4/16)
At the original commissioning of the business route in 2000, the segment between this interchange and the junction with IA 14 was given the secret designation of IA 337, but this part was turned over in 2001. In both Charles City and Waverly, the north half of the business route was turned over relatively soon but the southern half stayed under state jurisdiction. The south end of 337 was the stoplight at the (former) north end of IA 14.
Facing north on 218, but heading west on 18 (8/4/15)
Facing east on B35 (3/22/03)
This triple-junction sign is identical to one now on IA 14 to the south. These two shots are from the same picture; those signs on the left were in the background with the freeway bridge also visible.
Facing east on B35 (10/4/16)
Oblique version of junction sign and updated arrangement of photos seen in 2003.
Facing east on B35 (10/4/16)
Facing east on B35 (10/4/16)
Facing east, but heading south, on Business 218 (10/4/16)
SOUTH End: Interchange, US 18/218/IA 27 and T64, Charles City, Floyd County
Facing south on Business 218 (8/13/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
Since the 2004 pictures (the slightly off-color ones) below were taken, US 18 has been added to this interchange.
Facing south on Business 218 (6/26/04)
Facing south on Business 218 (8/4/15)
The sign is pointing to Mason City, destination for IA 27 and the four-lane, but not 218, for which Osage would be listed.
Facing south on Business 218 (3/22/03)
Like the north end, there is no signage for the end of the business route. T64 continues south; this was not part of original 218. The original route angled southeast at an intersection north of here.
Facing north on T64 (6/26/04)
Facing north on T64 (6/26/04)
The "Charles City" sign disappeared and the 218/27 shields moved by the time of the photo below.
Facing north on T64 (8/13/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
Facing north on T64 (7/29/10)
Facing east, but heading south, on 218 (7/31/05)
Facing east, but heading south, on 218 (7/31/05)
Customary of most business routes in Iowa, Business 218 is signed in only one direction - the one I didn't get before signs changed. These two BGSs were taken down in 2006 and replaced, but it's a subjective opinion as to whether they are improvements:
Facing east on 18, but heading south on 218 (8/13/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
This sign is in the same spot as the previous one. The change in exit numbers is to conform to US 18's mileage, which means that US 18 is exiting from itself at this interchange. Despite the number being 218, US 218 does not exit here, so don't be confused.
"Hey, don't those letters look funny?" you ask. Why yes, yes they do. This sign and the ones below, put up in spring 2006, are the first examples spotted in Iowa of the new "Clearview" font being used for highway signs.
Facing west, but heading north, on 218 (8/13/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
Unlike the original four-lane setup at the IA 14 interchange, where the northbound and southbound ramps received different exit numbers, the northbound 218 exit also has US 18's number despite 18 not being on the road here. Notice that more inconsistency is introduced with "East" and "Business" being completely different sizes. On the other hand, this is one of few signs in Iowa to show three highways, and it's nice that T64 wasn't removed.
Facing west (8/13/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
Even the exit number here is in Clearview. I had been hoping that these tabs, at least, wouldn't be changed.
Facing west on northbound offramp (8/4/15)
This sign says "TO 18 East" but, after the reroute, the "To" should have been covered up.
Facing north on Business 218, but heading east on 18 (8/4/15)
Surprisingly, T64 is signed north of the interchange, at least on this first shield assembly.
Page created 5/4/03; last updated 7/2/16