Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 25

Tama-Toledo RAGBRAI maps available

July 23, 2008: Riders enter Tama on RAGBRAI XXXVI. Tama-Toledo is again a host community this year. RAGBRAI will be going from Des Moines to Tama-Toledo on Thursday, and highs are expected to be in the upper 90s. By the … Continue reading

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Jul 24

Sandblasting, new paint for Winding Stairs

July 9, 2023: Crop of a picture of the Winding Stairs, before cleaning. On July 16, Traer’s iconic Winding Stairs had a refreshment. It wasn’t a drink, but a full-on sandblast followed by a new coat of paint. The North … Continue reading

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Jul 21

Here comes the I-35 flyover ramp

The “Stage 3A” plan for the northeast mixmaster includes this sign on eastbound I-80. The present gantry has the BGS for the left exit on I-35 with a 45 mph limit. What has been perhaps Iowa’s most notorious left-hand interstate … Continue reading

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Jul 19

Boone portion of US 30 has freeway potential

The DOT had a public meeting June 23 about long-term plans to convert US 30 between Boone and the Lincoln Way exits into a full freeway. This is in keeping with plans to do the same on 30 between Ames … Continue reading

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Jul 17

A new place to publish

The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative has expanded again, this time picking up someone you might be familiar with: Me. My Substack is named Between Two Rivers. This blog isn’t going anywhere. Posts will continue to appear, though I’m not sure on what … Continue reading

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Jul 14

Notes on 2024-28 DOT five-year plan: Polk County

Final segment of the 2024-28 construction plan, approved last month: A segment of I-80 east of the northeast mixmaster to US 65, with construction in 2025-27, is mistakenly labeled as I-35 again this year. There is a separate line for … Continue reading

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Jul 12

Notes on 2024-28 DOT five-year plan: I-80

Continuing analysis of the 2024-28 five-year plan: Completion of the Council Bluffs Interstate System project is forecast to wrap up in 2024, with construction at both the I-29/I-480 interchange and the I-80 Madison Avenue exit. I-80 east of US 169 … Continue reading

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Jul 10

Notes on 2024-28 DOT five-year plan

Yes, very delayed, for reasons. The Iowa Transportation Commission approved the latest five-year road construction plan in June. Its press release covers the biggest points, but I want to look deeper into some of them, especially the bigger-dollar projects. Years … Continue reading

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Jul 07

Roundabout coming to Granger

The page for the Iowa DOT meeting announcement just says “proposed safety project” but the result is more insidious: A roundabout is going to be built at the intersection of IA 17 and State Street on the east side of … Continue reading

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Jul 05

Look back at Traer’s Big Birthday Bash

Here’s coverage from the North Tama Telegraph, along with lots of photos, of Traer’s Big Birthday Bash on June 3. Naturally, with Tama County being in a moderate drought, the event was plagued by rain showers.

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