Author Archives: Jeff

May 19

Arkansas’ abuse of highway numbers continues

Buried in the continuing resolution that funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year were two interstate designations. One is designating the US 67 freeway from Little Rock to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, as Interstate 57. However, there … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Arkansas’ abuse of highway numbers continues
May 18

Mass sign replacement coming to Tama County

September 21, 2007: This LGS on US 63 at the east end of IA 175 is among those slated to be replaced, using a slightly different font. Among the projects at the DOT’s April contract letting is a sign project … Continue reading

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May 17

Statewide bridge database available online

September 1, 2009: Despite being less than 50 years old, the IA 136 bridge over the Mississippi River at Clinton is classified as poor condition and functionally obsolete. Without any fanfare, the state has put a valuable resource online: A … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Statewide bridge database available online
May 16

Highlights, analysis of 2018-22 five-year plan

August 8, 2009: The Youngville Cafe will be preserved when an interchange for US 30 and US 218 is built in 2018. Ramps will be in the northwest and southeast quadrants, with a north-south bridge. An access road to the … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Highlights, analysis of 2018-22 five-year plan
May 15

OABCIG will try consolidation vote a third time

The Battle Creek-Ida Grove and Odebolt-Arthur school districts will make a third attempt at consolidation, the Sioux City Journal reports. Odebolt-Arthur voters have resisted full reorganization out of fear the former O-A district would be outnumbered/outvoted on issues and the school … Continue reading

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May 13

Where in the World…

It’s last week’s SNL, yes, but WOW, the thought that went into the production design, clothing, and animation for a two-minute skit is clearly from a position of love for the source material. They even got the gumshoes’ coats right! … Continue reading

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May 12

IA 17, I-80 meetings planned next week

The Iowa DOT has two public meetings planned next week. The first, Tuesday at the United school, is the next step in relocating IA 17 off the Lincoln Highway east of Boone. As I write this, the new plan is … Continue reading

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May 11

Griswold addition will cost two towns their schools

October 22, 2014: The Elliott gym has been separated from the present elementary building since at least the late 1970s. Over the past year or so, the Griswold school district in western Iowa has been looking at saving money through … Continue reading

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Griswold addition will cost two towns their schools
May 10

Leveling US 75

June 5, 2014: The southbound lanes of US 75 (left) are at a higher elevation than the northbound lanes between Hinton and Merrill, and then again north of Merrill. The stretch of US 75 from the north end of the … Continue reading

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May 09

Sinclair-Tribune deal affects all but one Iowa market

Sinclair Broadcasting Group, an owner of TV stations across the country that’s going to get more coverage about its visible political stances but is better known to consumers for repeatedly playing hardball on cable and satellite retransmission agreements, is about to … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Sinclair-Tribune deal affects all but one Iowa market