Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 29

304 is 404

June 6, 1993: Troop 304 Scoutmaster Dennis Kucera addresses the Cub Scouts who just received the Arrow of Light, advancing to Boy Scouts, at the Taylor Park shelter house in Traer. Cub Scout Pack 304 and Boy Scout Troop 304 … Continue reading

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Aug 26

IA 2 (1920 Series): A piece recreated (almost)

Two developments in the Des Moines suburbs over the past year or so have done two very different things to the first highway that exited the state capital on Grand Avenue. This is the companion to Wednesday’s post. Waukee’s continued … Continue reading

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Aug 24

IA 2 (1920 Series): A piece obliterated

Two developments in the Des Moines suburbs over the past year or so have done two very different things to the first highway that exited the state capital on Grand Avenue. Val Lanes concrete, 1921-2021 The 1948 blueprint above shows … Continue reading

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Aug 22

US 63 construction to flip from south to north of Traer

2022 may rival only 1930 in the difficulty of getting to Traer on primary roads. The day after Labor Day — and 10 days after US 63 from Traer south to IA 96 opens after months of construction — US … Continue reading

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Aug 19

IA 192, twice merely dead, is really most sincerely dead

August 1, 2015: This sign on northbound South Expressway at the 30th Avenue intersection has been modified to green-out the middle section indicating IA 192. Photo by Jason Hancock. In the Transportation Commission minutes for this month was a curious … Continue reading

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Aug 17

Final loop ramp at 80/380 interchange to close

August 16, 2021: Looking straight ahead as the freeway bends, you can see the grading for the ramp from southbound I-380 to eastbound I-80. There’s also grading for the future ramp to westbound 80. The I-80/I-380 interchange project has reached … Continue reading

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Aug 15

Mixmaster meeting focuses on I-80 east of interchange

Information on another stage of the Northeast Mixmaster was released online and in a public meeting August 9. This project is about expanding I-80 between I-35 and US 65. The PDFs are here. The expansions shown in the “full build” … Continue reading

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Aug 12

The names of the BCR&M live on

October 12, 2021: Two intersections in Walker, in northern Linn County. Ely has streets named Dows, Rowley, Traer, and Walker. Walker has streets named Dows, Ely, Greene, Rowley, and Traer. Mount Auburn has a Traer Street. Rowley has a (very short) Ely … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The names of the BCR&M live on
Aug 10

We’re not getting the tram back, are we?

The Iowa State Fair killed off the interior tram last year, said nothing about it coming back, and kept the official website on a “safety protocols” wording that might have passed last year but not now. It’s up to a … Continue reading

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Aug 08

I-74 bridge has different type of lane markers

Last month, WQAD did a story about the lane markers on the I-74 bridge. Each white line has a black counterpart and is called “contrast marking”. The story says the Iowa DOT is planning to add this type of marking … Continue reading

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