End of Business US 71 (Buena Vista Co.)

BUSINESS

NORTH End: Stop sign, US 71, Buena Vista County

Facing east, but heading north, on Business 71 (10/20/18)

For 60 or so years, US 71 had an odd little, or should I say long, kink in it. Since 1937, it has entered and exited Buena Vista County on about the same line, but in the middle in went west to visit downtown Storm Lake. That's understandable. But then, as it approached IA 3, it went back east, perhaps prematurely, as the map below shows:

The thinnest lines mark gravel county roads. The line on the right rejoins US 71 on the same line, although it was unpaved. Before 1937, according to old maps, 71 followed a stairstep pattern in that six-square-mile area (green line). A line north of Truesdale was marked going west of Rembrandt, meaning that the alignment was shifted when the route was paved. The slightly more logical thing would have been to continue 71 north those last two miles to IA 3, then east to where it would hang a left and go north. But instead, 71 got its own east-west alignment, going past what became IA 352 in the process.

Facing south on 71 (3/21/03)

While the current intersection is a regular one, until 71's realignment there was a large eastbound-to-northbound curve, as indicated in aerial photos.

Facing south on 71 (10/20/18)

Facing north on 71 (5/10/10)

Storm Lake is signed in both directions even though we're past it northbound.

Facing west, but heading south, on Business 71 (3/21/03)

This is the only indication along the east-west portion of both Business 71 and C43, except at the south end of old IA 352.

Surrounding area information: Junction IA 3

This mile marker is just north of the intersection, marking where the gap is with the shortening of the route. This is one of only two major realignments of 71 in the mile-marker era (post-1970), not including possible minor bypasses of small towns. The road in the foreground leads to a gas station and the now-abandoned Crossroads Motel (likely closed after a fire in 2011). (3/21/03)

As a symbol of significance of the intersection, two "American Veterans Memorial Highway" markers are placed on IA 3 leaving the intersection in each direction. (3/21/03)

Along the route

Facing north on Business 71 (3/21/03)

This intersection, one mile west of 352, shows the incorporation of Business 71 into the county road system (though I think the business route should also appear on the state map). M44 goes north for a few hundred feet before turning west, and then goes half a mile west before turning north.

Facing north on Business 71 (10/20/18)

Now why did the M44 arrow change from ahead to "right"? Is it to match the LGS?

LGS in background of above picture (3/21/03)

The highway picture has almost completely faded from this leftover sign. (To go to 3 east, just follow Bus. 71.)

The sign's condition 15 years later is somehow better yet worse. (10/20/18)

Facing west, but heading south, on Business 71 (10/20/18)

So Business 71 is assimilated into the county road system, but IA 352, dead 20+ years, isn't? UPDATE: Changed in the 2000s. (3/21/03)

End IA 914 North

Facing north on Business 71 (3/21/03)

While the 2002 PDF maps showed IA 914 in Storm Lake, maps in 2003 put out by the DOT, notably the transfer-of-jurisdiction map, did not mark nor mention this route at all. Turns out it was turned over October 26, 2001.

At left is an AmeriHost Inn, one of the first in the state, which became my first stop on my spring break trip. Ahead is a Wal-Mart Supercenter, under construction as of March 2003.

End IA 914 South

Facing south on Business 71 (3/21/03)

At this point, Business 71 joins IA 7 and thus comes under state control again. Notice the "To 110" sign. The "Jct 7" is actually a redundancy, because there was a "Jct 7" two blocks back. At left is half a Standard sign.

Now, in so many original routings, the main route charged headlong into the business district, instead of skirting it as they are apt to do today. My 1937 map, combined with early 1980s topographic maps, reveal where the routes used to go.