Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 12

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

Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Friday, July 7, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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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Jul 03

Will proofread for food

Posted on Monday, July 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

On June 29, I was laid off. I am looking for something in the editing, proofreading, or journalism fields.

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Jun 30

Dysart sesquicentennial celebration next week

Posted on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The town of Dysart will celebrate its 150th birthday July 2-4. Events begin with a community church service Sunday morning at 10 and end with the Independence Day parade Tuesday morning at 11. Here’s a detailed rundown in the North … Continue reading →

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Jun 28

I-74 bridge towers go boom

Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Do you want to see 3½ minutes of the controlled demolition of the old Illinois-bound I-74 bridge towers? Of course you do. Do you want to see a news story about the demolition, which interviews a resident who remembers when … Continue reading →

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Jun 26

Dike’s role in Nebraska highway history

Posted on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The 1953 state highway map has a crudely drawn line for what was to become IA 370 and the designation still attached to the town of Dike. That would change. It turns out a remark I made on one route … Continue reading →

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Jun 23

Ingersoll ‘road diet’ gives businesses indigestion

Posted on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A streetscape project on Ingersoll Avenue, just west of downtown Des Moines, has been a long time in the making. Now that part of it has been completed, the results are less than hoped for. The Des Moines Register reports … Continue reading →

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Jun 21

Lu Verne school closes in consolidation

Posted on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s not ABCWLT, but it could have been. Algona-Burt-Corwith-Wesley-Lu Verne-Titonka, but officially just Algona Community, becomes Iowa’s largest consolidated single-high-school district on July 1. Western Dubuque remains larger, barely, and MVAOCOU is two separate districts, for now. A district that … Continue reading →

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