Author Archives: Jeff

May 09

A township that needs to be put out of its misery, but probably can’t

Posted on Friday, May 9, 2014, at 9:58 AM by Jeff

This corner is all that’s left of Bloomfield Township in Polk County (2013 map). Polk County’s Bloomfield Township has been gradually shrinking since it was created. In 1875, the township had boundaries of the Raccoon River, the section line that … Continue reading →

Posted in Geography, Maps | Comments Off on A township that needs to be put out of its misery, but probably can’t
May 08

Old Army Post Road bridge demolition

Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 4:17 PM by Jeff

When New Army Post Road (very temporarily IA 5) was built south and west of the Des Moines airport, it left behind the street running west from 42nd Street (the old intersection of IA 5/28). The road is still paved, … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Old Army Post Road bridge demolition
May 08

Scott Siepker, call your office

Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 10:43 AM by Jeff

Omaha World Herald: “Nebraska Nice” is Nebraska’s new tourism brand Turns out Siepker had the same reaction I did: “This means war.” Related: “The Good Life” will stay on Nebraska highway signs

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Scott Siepker, call your office
May 07

Beltway interstate more than changing signs

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at 11:14 AM by Jeff

Do I need to explain this again, Greater Des Moines Partnership? I wrote a blog post on the Des Moines beltway back in September 2012, too. Talking with DC officials about making it an interstate is less important than getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Beltway interstate more than changing signs
May 06

Informational meeting on US 20 plans

Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at 12:35 PM by Jeff

The U.S. 20 Corridor Association met in Sac City (which is no longer directly on US 20), and the Fort Dodge Messenger has a report. The immediate next step in upgrading 20 to four lanes will be between Moville and … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Informational meeting on US 20 plans
May 05

I-74 project timeline presented

Posted on Monday, May 5, 2014, at 2:22 PM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT’s PIM site has put online the giant posters that were at an informational meeting last week. The file is a VERY large PDF. Everything through 2020 is laid out, but that includes nothing north of Middle Road … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on I-74 project timeline presented
May 04

Exira school building fire today

Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

This school fire is a good one — Exira is planning a controlled burn of its original brick building. The AP article about it notes that it was closed not just because of declining enrollment, but because “The structure was … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Exira school building fire today
May 01

Des Moines and Diagonal: Polar opposites with similarities

Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at 10:30 AM by Jeff

A quirky fact about Iowa school districts will expire this summer along with the Clearfield school district. The Des Moines school district by far has the largest student population in the state. Since the closure of Lineville-Clio, Diagonal has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Des Moines and Diagonal: Polar opposites with similarities
Apr 30

University Avenue construction needed, but not wanted

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at 4:18 PM by Jeff

KWWL has a(nother) story about the troublesome state of University Avenue — once US 218, now IA 934 — in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. A DOT employee says there are “negotiations” for transferring jurisdiction to the cities. At the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on University Avenue construction needed, but not wanted
Apr 30

License Plate Letters — CIB

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at 10:45 AM by Jeff

I should’ve updated with a CH or two, but never did.

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — CIB