Interstate 35
Interstate 35 travels 218 miles across central Iowa, connecting the capital city of Des Moines with Kansas City and the Twin Cities in Minnesota. This includes a 14.3 mile overlap with Interstate 80 from West Des Moines to Ankeny. Within the Hawkeye State, I-35 displaced U.S. 69 as the main route north from Missouri between Lamoni and Des Moines. North from Ankney, I-35 parallels U.S. 69 closely, but also U.S. 65 to the west on a northward course to Ames and Blairsburg. The freeway shifts eastward beyond Hamilton County toward Clear Lake and Mason City, staying within ten miles of U.S. 65 north until they converge at Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Interstate 35 Iowa Guides
North
Lamoni to Osceola - 40 photos
Bevington to West Des Moines - 50 photos
I-35 North / 80 East - 24 photos
Ankeny to Ames - 39 photos
South
Minnesota to Mason City - 52 photos
Latimer to Story City - 60 photos
Ames to Ankeny - 48 photos
I-35 South / 80 West - 33 photos
West Des Moines to Cumming - 11 photos
Known at the time as the "Mason City Diagonal" the angled section of I-35 through Wright and Franklin Counties was the last portion completed within Iowa. The planned alignment of I-35 was redirected eastward on this stretch to better serve Mason City, the largest community north of the U.S. 20 corridor. Overall Interstate 35 was finished in the state by 1975.
scenes
U.S. 18 east combines with Interstate 35/Iowa 27 south from the city of Clear Lake as part of a bypass of Mason City. U.S. 18 Business and Iowa 122 extend east to Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) and Downtown Mason City.
04/23/07
Signage at the diamond interchange joining U.S. 18 and Iowa 122 with Interstate 35 was upgraded to use guide signs in place of stand alone shields by 2015.
04/23/07
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 04/23/07
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Page Updated Wednesday February 21, 2024.