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Iowa Notes

Started by paulthemapguy, March 23, 2018, 10:04:10 AM

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DandyDan

Quote from: WhitePoleRD on October 01, 2018, 02:37:01 PM
If you're familiar with the Jesse James train robbery, that happened in Stuart, which is the largest town on the road (clocking in at a whopping 1600).
That was actually SW of Adair. There's a roadside rest about a mile south of I-80 on White Pole Road which mentions the Jesse James train robbery.
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mvak36

The widening of the last remaining 2-lane segment of US 20 has been completed according to this Des Moines Register story. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/15/iowa-transportation-travel-maps-construction-moorland-waterloo-traffic-dubuque-woodbury-sioux-city/1566973002/

Ribbon cutting this Friday, but the new road segment might not be open by then.
QuoteBecause of recent heavy rainfall, the last 11 miles of the U.S. 20 project – extending from Correctionville to Holstein – might not yet be open to traffic on Oct. 19, said Dakin Schultz, the DOT's transportation planner in Sioux City. Crews haven't been able to install traffic signs because of poor weather conditions, he said.
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The Ghostbuster

Does anyone know anything about a proposed project linking US 20 south of Dubuque with US 61? I saw it in the 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas Iowa portion, and I assumed it was the first stretch of a future US 20 bypass of Dubuque. Can anyone clarify what this is for me?

pianocello

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on October 16, 2018, 04:49:50 PM
Does anyone know anything about a proposed project linking US 20 south of Dubuque with US 61? I saw it in the 2019 Rand McNally Road Atlas Iowa portion, and I assumed it was the first stretch of a future US 20 bypass of Dubuque. Can anyone clarify what this is for me?

Southwest Arterial. It's under construction now, and when completed, it looks like US 52 will be rerouted onto it (I'm pretty sure 52 will then follow US 20 west to Dyersville, where it will overtake the northernmost 10 miles of IA 136 to join its current route).

Unfortunately, as of now, there are no plans to extend it across the river, so it won't be a part of US 20 in the foreseeable future. Also, while the corridor itself will be a freeway, the interchanges with US 20 and US 61/151 will not be free-flowing.

https://www.cityofdubuque.org/1225/Southwest-Arterial-Project
Davenport, IA -> Valparaiso, IN -> Ames, IA -> Orlando, FL -> Gainesville, FL -> Evansville, IN

iowahighways

#54
New interchange at US 65, IA 330, IA 117, and County Road F17 (old IA 223) opened October 19:

https://whotv.com/2018/10/19/controversial-diamond-interchange-near-mingo-open-for-motorists/
The Iowa Highways Page: Now exclusively at www.iowahighways.org
The Iowa Highways Photo Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/iowahighways/

MNHighwayMan

Quote from: iowahighways on October 21, 2018, 09:55:16 PM
New interchange at US 65, IA 330, IA 117, and County Road F17 (old IA 223) opened October 19:

https://whotv.com/2018/10/19/controversial-diamond-interchange-near-mingo-open-for-motorists/

Here's 56 pictures I took of it yesterday morning when I went to check it out: https://imgur.com/a/hinf7WB

mgk920

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on October 27, 2018, 03:28:48 AM
Quote from: iowahighways on October 21, 2018, 09:55:16 PM
New interchange at US 65, IA 330, IA 117, and County Road F17 (old IA 223) opened October 19:

https://whotv.com/2018/10/19/controversial-diamond-interchange-near-mingo-open-for-motorists/

Here's 56 pictures I took of it yesterday morning when I went to check it out: https://imgur.com/a/hinf7WB

Has IADOT stopped drawing those thin black outlines around route markers on their BGSes?

Mike

MNHighwayMan

Quote from: mgk920 on October 27, 2018, 10:43:21 AM
Has IADOT stopped drawing those thin black outlines around route markers on their BGSes?

Yes. Quite some time ago, actually. The only signs that have them anymore are old.

MNHighwayMan

Found this the other day on Iowa 44, about nine miles west of Guthrie Center. Are there any other signs like this in the state?


iowahighways

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on November 26, 2018, 04:12:08 PM
Found this the other day on Iowa 44, about nine miles west of Guthrie Center. Are there any other signs like this in the state?

Yes: this one in a roadside park along US 30 west of Carroll.


The Iowa Highways Page: Now exclusively at www.iowahighways.org
The Iowa Highways Photo Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/iowahighways/

sparker

A question for Iowa posters:  Is the old CB&Q steam locomotive (4-6-4 #3007) still on display along US 71 near the I-80 interchange?  The last time I saw it (about 20 years ago) it was getting a little decrepit, which is too bad -- apparently it was the last of its type to avoid the scrap heap!   

pianocello

Iowa Highway 100 has now fully opened around the west side of Cedar Rapids. It's now possible to drive on 4-lane roads all around the city.

Makes for a nice shortcut from Marion and US 30 west, and I imagine there will be future expansion of commercial and/or residential developments in the areas of the interchanges, both at 16th Ave SW and E Ave NW.

(Link to article)
Davenport, IA -> Valparaiso, IN -> Ames, IA -> Orlando, FL -> Gainesville, FL -> Evansville, IN

WhitePoleRD

Quote from: MNHighwayMan on November 26, 2018, 04:12:08 PM
Found this the other day on Iowa 44, about nine miles west of Guthrie Center. Are there any other signs like this in the state?



That was my first teaching gig!

No official signs, but Lorimor (south of Winterset) prides itself for being right on the divide.
You take the high road, I'll take the low road and I'll be in Iowa before ye.

paulthemapguy

It looks like they're putting up new flyover ramps at the I-80 and I-380 interchange!  The EB-to-NB one is making good progress.  I find it odd that they chose that "left turn" as the place to put a flyover though?  I thought a SB-to-WB flyover would be the most useful, of the four potential "left turns."
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National collection status: 361/425. Only 64 route markers remain

pianocello

#64
Quote from: paulthemapguy on September 18, 2019, 12:31:48 PM
It looks like they're putting up new flyover ramps at the I-80 and I-380 interchange!  The EB-to-NB one is making good progress.  I find it odd that they chose that "left turn" as the place to put a flyover though?  I thought a SB-to-WB flyover would be the most useful, of the four potential "left turns."

They're planning to put flyovers in all 4 "left-turning" movements, which IMO is overkill. I agree that SB-EB (what you undoubtedly meant) is the most urgent, but I'd guess that EB-NB is right up there in terms of need. Far as I'm concerned, they can keep the two ramps to/from US 218 as loops.

In other news, I heard the much-anticipated and long-delayed flyover at the I-35 and US 30 interchange in Ames is finally open. After delays of nearly a year, they were able to get it done in time for the Iowa-ISU football game this past weekend. https://www.kcci.com/article/get-first-look-at-drive-over-ames-flyover-bridge/29002685#
Davenport, IA -> Valparaiso, IN -> Ames, IA -> Orlando, FL -> Gainesville, FL -> Evansville, IN

The Ghostbuster

Speaking of the Interstate 80/380 interchange, I just saw on Google Maps that the US 218 northbound ramps to 80 E and 80 W have no exit numbers (such as 96A and 96B, or even 0A/B). The exit tabs just say "Exit". Does anyone know why that is?


iowahighways

#67
Quote from: 3467 on September 30, 2019, 03:22:42 PM
https://www.saukvalley.com/2017/03/11/u-s-route-30-expansion-plans-near-morrison-halted/a32ll91/

https://qctimes.com/news/local/learn-about-iowa-s-u-s-highway-study-at-meeting/article_d36cc9f8-f3a7-5e49-8829-d9d38fb4c12c.html

Included the Illinois story because it will have an effect on Iowas decision.

The Iowa DOT is recommending having upgrading US 30 to a "super 2" east of Lisbon by having climbing lanes between cities and center turn lanes through cities. Link: Iowa DOT project study page

Apparently Clinton County isn't too happy about the idea: Clinton Herald story
The Iowa Highways Page: Now exclusively at www.iowahighways.org
The Iowa Highways Photo Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/iowahighways/

3467

I think Illinois clinched this. Clinton was upset about that too. The Illinois DOT had opposition to the bypass from Morrison. The locals wanted  3 lanes through Morrison and some other passing lanes. Stunningly Illinois DOT agreed. My comments to Iowa encouraged them to keep on our IDOT  to keep its promise.

3467

We were just at  the 380 80 218 27 ramps. I am not sure what is on the exit sign but the roads have mileage infractions now. It may have to Do with construction.

MNHighwayMan

Quote from: 3467 on September 30, 2019, 11:12:39 PM
the roads have mileage infractions now.

Damn roads. I hate it when they can't follow the rules.

3467

My autocorrect is merging words for me now. The mileage markers are new and they show fractions of miles.. On 218 they showed up about the time reconstruction began on the interchange.

M86

Has Iowa finally ditched the wooden posts they use for signage?

MNHighwayMan

Quote from: M86 on October 02, 2019, 12:43:03 AM
Has Iowa finally ditched the wooden posts they use for signage?

Many of the new signs at the US-65/IA-117/330 interchange use wooden posts, so I'm going to guess not.

kphoger

Quote from: M86 on October 02, 2019, 12:43:03 AM
Has Iowa finally ditched the wooden posts they use for signage?

Were they planning to?
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