Category Archives: Highway Miscellaneous

Aug 18

State Center intersection a trouble spot

October 27, 2011: This intersection on US 30, the north end of old IA 234, has had several non-fatal crashes in the past few years, KCCI reports. The now-seeming tradition of trouble with at-grade intersections on roads upgraded to four … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on State Center intersection a trouble spot
Aug 14

IA 906 decommissioned

July 24, 2019: This oversized US 6 shield was how the DOT initially signed US 6’s reroute onto I-80 on the east end of Council Bluffs. Straight ahead was IA 906, aka Kanesville Boulevard in the city. The Iowa Department … Continue reading

Posted in Construction, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on IA 906 decommissioned
Aug 09

At long last, a correction in Traer’s highway history

For years I have tried to reconcile early 20th century maps of the area just east of Traer with the present alignment of IA 8. I knew that at least part of the diagonal heading east from Second Street did … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous, Tama County | Comments Off on At long last, a correction in Traer’s highway history
Jul 31

100th anniversary of Reed-Niland corner in Colo

July 5, 2013: The Colo Motel at the Reed-Niland corner. In 1923, a Colo farmer began a gas station at the east junction of the Lincoln and Jefferson highways. The station, which expanded to include a restaurant and lodging, thrived … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on 100th anniversary of Reed-Niland corner in Colo
Jun 26

Dike’s role in Nebraska highway history

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

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Dike’s role in Nebraska highway history
Jun 07

Jefferson Highway notes in Decatur County

This 1918 construction document for “Inter County Highway” shows the plan for a truss bridge south of Leon. Note the intricate illustration for the river. The 2023 Jefferson Highway conference starts today in Mason City. The Jefferson Highway, also known … Continue reading

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Jefferson Highway notes in Decatur County
Apr 24

Malvern’s ‘End 41’ found a new home

March 13, 2002: The only photo this site has of IA 41’s south end before decommissioning, taken by Neil Bratney. IA 41, a spur to Malvern, was an original 1920-series highway that was killed off in the Second Great Decommissioning … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Malvern’s ‘End 41’ found a new home
Feb 10

The winding history of the Sageville-Luxemburg road (2)

This clip from 1949 Iowa Highway Commission blueprints shows three alignments of IA 3 in Sageville that are nearly on top of each other. The top gray line is the 1932-49 pavement. The middle, with a centerline, is a change … Continue reading

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on The winding history of the Sageville-Luxemburg road (2)
Dec 29

US 63 in Tama-Toledo to be three-laned

This month’s Iowa Transportation Commission meeting included approval of Traffic Safety Improvement Program applications. (The two PDFs that compile the applications are detailed and large.) Included on the list of FY24 funding approvals is conversion of US 63 in Tama and … Continue reading

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on US 63 in Tama-Toledo to be three-laned
Dec 12

Updates and corrections to pages, late 2022

(This has been percolating for a while, and the changes have been made. I figured I’d better push it out by the end of the year.) Active highways: I’ve had the west end of IA 24 in New Hampton dated … Continue reading

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Updates and corrections to pages, late 2022