I-380 North - Center Point to Waterloo

I-380/Iowa 27 north straddle the west side of Center Point ahead of the Cedar Ridge Road (CR E16) overpass.

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The city of Urbana likes six miles ahead, followed by Waterloo in 39 miles.

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Angling northwest, Interstate 380 lowers to cross Blue Creek.

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A short distance north of Blue Creek on I-380 is the Benton County line.

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I-380/Iowa 27 angle across the northeastern corner of Benton County by Urbana. A diamond interchange (Exit 41) joins the freeway with 55th Street / Sunset Street on the east side of the city.

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Sunset Street originally connected I-380 with Iowa 363, a short route connecting Urbana with Iowa 150 to the west. The route was extended east to I-380 in 1984 and decommissioned on July 1, 2003.¹

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IowaDOT recorded 21,300 vehicles per day along I-380 at Urbana in 2022.

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Iowa 150 turns north from 55th Street (former Iowa 363) to cross paths with Interstate 380 at a diamond interchange (Exit 43) on the north side of Urbana.

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I-380/Iowa 27 progress northward through the Urbana city limits to BECCA Industrial Park at Exit 43.

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Exit 43 parts ways with I-380/Iowa 27 north for Iowa 150 north to Independence and west to Vinton. Iowa 150 forms a 84.94 mile route between U.S. 218 in Vinton and U.S. 52 at Calmar. The state highway originally headed southeast to Cedar Rapids and east to Davenport, where it ended opposite U.S. 150 in Rock Island.²

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Confirming markers posted along I-380/Iowa 27 north between Iowa 150 and the 30th Avenue overpass in Polk township.

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With a population of over 300, the small city of Brandon is the next destination along Interstate 380 north in seven miles. Waterloo is a half hour away.

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The 5.65 mile long exit less stretch along I-380 from Iowa 150 extends northwest into Jefferson township.

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Traversing agricultural areas north ahead of Prairie Creek and Polk Township Wildlife Area.

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Northbound I-380 crosses the Buchanan County line a mile before Exit 49 with County Route D48 (330th Street) east of Brandon.

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The adjacent Cedar Valley Nature Trail curves west into Brandon beyond Bear Creek. The multi use trail follows the former Waterloo Railroad line.

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330th Street (County Route D48) is the former route of Iowa 283, which linked Main Street in Brandon with Iowa 150 (Jamestown Avenue) in Homer township, 4.5 miles to the east.³

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Northbound Interstate 380 lowers to cross Lime Creek ahead of a truck weigh station.

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Buchanan County Route W17 (Brandon Diagonal Boulevard) angles northeast from CR D48 and Brandon to span I-380 en route to Independence.

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The northbound weigh station lies between CR W17 and Dugan Avenue (CR V71) on I-380/Iowa 27.

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Turning more westward, I-380/Iowa 27 near the Black Hawk County line and Exit 55 with County Route V65.

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The diamond interchange at Exit 55 serves interests to both Hickory Hills and McFarlane Parks.

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County Route V65 south ties into CR D48 (Laporter Road) west of Brandon. CR D48 extends west to La Porte City.
Northward CR V65 parallels the county line to Shady Grove and the city of Jesup.

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Interstate 380 leaves southwestern Buchanan County at the County Route V65 overpass.

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A 6.05 mile long exit less stretch ensues along I-380/Iowa 27 northwest through Spring Creek and Fox townships.

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A lengthy exit less stretch ensues along I-380/Iowa 27 northwest through Spring Creek and Fox townships.

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Meeting Interstate 380 in one mile is Black Hawk County Route D38 (Poyner Road), an east to west highway between Jesup Road (CR V62) and the city of Gilbertville.

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Entering the diamond interchange (Exit 62) with County Route D38. CR D38 becomes 10th Avenue west into Gilbertville. CR D38 emerges from 5th Street west of the city en route to Iowa 27 south of Waterloo.

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I-380/Iowa 27 curve north across Indian Creek ahead of U.S. 20.

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Downtown Waterloo lies ten miles to the west via Interstate 380 and U.S. 218.

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A directional-T interchange (Exit 65) joins I-380/Iowa 27 north with U.S. 20 near the city of Raymond. U.S. 20 is a freeway east to Independence and Manchester and an expressway to Dubuque.

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The speed limit lowers by 5 miles per hour where Interstate 380 converges with U.S. 20 west to the city of Evansdale.

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Exit 65 for Dubuque parts ways with I-380 north to U.S. 20 east. U.S. 20 was upgraded to an expressway by December 22, 1988.⁴ The original two lane alignment parallels to the north as County RouteD22 (Dubuque Road) between Raymond and Jesup.

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A high flyover connects U.S. 20 west with I-380/Iowa 27 south above the I-380 northbound mainline.

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Merging traffic from I-380 north forms an auxiliary lane along the freeway on U.S. 20 west to Exit 66 for Black Hawk County Route V49 (Raymond Road) south of Raymond.

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The diamond interchange with County Route V49 joins U.S. 20 with the city of Gilbertville, located two miles to the south along Raymond Road. Exit 66 also serves the nearby community of Raymar.

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Progressing westward, I-380/U.S. 20 travel through the city of Evansdale with two interchanges.

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Evansdale Drive extends southwest from Plaza Drive at Gilbertville Road to meet I-380-U.S. 20/Iowa 27 at a diamond interchange (Exit 68).

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Evansdale Drive connects I-380/U.S. 20 with the city of Elk Run Heights to the north. The local road ties into McCoy Road just to the west of Exit 68.

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Interstate 380 and U.S. 20 separate in 2.5 miles at a three quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exits 71 A/B) with U.S. 218 (Washington Street).

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This shield assembly stands at the McCoy Road overpass. The freeway separates a residential street grid through Evansdale, which results in the installation of sound barriers on both sides of I-380/U.S. 20.

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I-380, U.S. 20/Iowa 27 cross Elk Run and the Cedar Valley Nature Trail west 0.75 miles ahead of Exit 70.

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A trumpet interchange (Exit 70) joins I-380/U.S. 20 with River Forest Road north at Deerwood Park.

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River Forest Road stems north from Exit 70 and follows the Cedar River to Lafayette Road in Evansdale.

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Northwest from Washburn and La Porte City, U.S. 218 ties into the exchange (Exit 71) where I-380 separates from U.S. 20 west. U.S. 218 extends 1.52 miles south along a freeway to Shaulis Road.

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U.S. 20/Iowa 27 (Avenue of the Saints) bypasses Waterloo to the south to Iowa 58. Iowa 27/58 overlap north along an expressway to Cedar Falls, which is home to the University of Northern Iowa.

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I-380/U.S. 218 combine northward 1.23 miles to Mitchell Avenue in Waterloo. U.S. 218 continues northwest to Downtown and Waterloo Regional Airport (ALO).

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The entrance ramp from River Forest Road adds a third westbound lane to U.S. 20 across the Cedar River.

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U.S. 20 extends west to Webster City and Fort Dodge. Iowa 27 (Avenue of the Saints) rejoins U.S. 218 north from Cedar Falls to Waverly and Charles City. A loop ramp (Exit 71 A) follows from U.S. 20 west for U.S. 218 south.

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Interstate 380 enters Waterloo across the Cedar River alongside U.S. 20/Iowa 27. A welcome sign for the city appears along parallel Texas Street from I-380/U.S. 218 northbound.

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I-380/U.S. 218 run just east of Crossroads mall and a large area of retail north to the diamond interchange (Exit 72) with San Marnan Drive.

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San Marnan Drive angles southwest from adjacent Texas Street to Hammond Avenue, where the arterial turns west paralleling U.S. 20/Iowa 27.

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Interstate 380 ends a half mile north of San Marnan Drive along U.S. 218 (Leo P. Roof Expressway).

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The speed limit lowers to 45 MPH as U.S. 218 transitions to an at-grade boulevard north of San Marnan Drive.

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I-380 concludes at the signalized intersection joining U.S. 218 (Leo P. Roof Expressway) with Mitchell Avenue.

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U.S. 218 (Leo P. Roof expressway) expands to a six lane boulevard with a wide landscaped median north from Mitchell Avenue to the elevated roadway at 6th Street and Downtown Waterloo.

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