Author Archives: Jeff

Dec 19

Benton County in-town endpoint photos added

Posted on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I said I was going to start including post-1969 pre-1980 endpoints in pages as I got around to them, and fortunately, the biggest cluster of such points is in easy driving distance. All of the Benton County spurs except IA … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Benton County in-town endpoint photos added
Dec 18

Pinstripe still a southward bowl game, barely

Posted on Monday, December 18, 2017, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

This line from a rundown of bowl game watchability got me thinking. Most bowl games feature teams that got to go to a cool place. This does not—the game is played in Navy’s home stadium in Annapolis, and Virginia isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography, Maps | Comments Off on Pinstripe still a southward bowl game, barely
Dec 16

20th anniversary of ‘Titanic’ and some reflections

Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

ISMAY: But this ship can’t sink! ANDREWS: She is made of iron, sir. I assure you, she can. And she will. It is a mathematical certainty. — From James Cameron’s Titanic July 28, 2015: Scale model of the Titanic’s bow as it … Continue reading →

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Dec 15

IA 192 is dead

Posted on Friday, December 15, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 6, 2008: BGS on I-29/80 for IA 192 at the 24th Street Bridge, the first construction related to the massive expansion of I-80 in Council Bluffs that’s still going on today. IA 192 has an interesting history. The Iowa … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on IA 192 is dead
Dec 14

Mushrooms will grow in Hamburg school, but intentionally

Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 2, 2015: The original Hamburg High School. Two weeks ago, the Hamburg School District sold their original school building for $25,000, the Valley News of Shenandoah reports. (Second story: KMA.) There was a higher bid but it would have … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Mushrooms will grow in Hamburg school, but intentionally
Dec 13

Corrections, updates for IA 415 page

Posted on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I made a graphic a long time ago sketching out the changes to IA 415 between Ankeny and Polk City, but I had based it on incomplete information. Once DOT route descriptions were released, Jason Hancock updated his listing, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Corrections, updates for IA 415 page
Dec 12

Waterville school at risk of closing

Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 17, 2015: Waterville Elementary, on X32 in Allamakee County, has an old-school gym (pun mostly intended) to go with its 1922 building. Trophies inside recall the days when this was a high school. We had made it nearly half … Continue reading →

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Dec 11

IA 100 signs at I-380 to be replaced

Posted on Monday, December 11, 2017, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Buried in the bid lettings for August 2017 was a sign contract mostly centered around the IA 100 interchange with I-380. There’s a significant difference in the new signs — Cedar Rapids has been replaced with Iowa City for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on IA 100 signs at I-380 to be replaced
Dec 08

US 61 Grandview bypass update

Posted on Friday, December 8, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Correcting here and there: The expectation of four-lane US 61 opening around Grandview, extending the four-lane south from the Louisa/Muscatine county line, did not happen until December 1, Jason Hancock says. I should have put a question mark on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 61 Grandview bypass update
Dec 07

1989

Posted on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A streak ended Wednesday night. The last time the Iowa women had won in Hilton Coliseum, Bill Fennelly was not ISU’s coach. The USSR existed; the Big 12 Conference didn’t. Taylor Swift was four days old. (That’s right, she’s eligible … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on 1989