Highway 27 - Avenue of the Saints
Iowa 27 is the designation given for the Avenue of the Saints corridor throughout the Hawkeye State. The route augments U.S. 218, Interstate 380, U.S. 20, U.S. 218 again, U.S. 18 and Interstate 35 as part of a four-lane corridor linking Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota with St. Louis, Missouri. Iowa 27 was created in 2004 following completion of the Donnellson freeway bypass for U.S. 218 in Lee County. The route replaced Iowa 394 south from Donnellson to the Missouri state line.1
A new four-lane bridge opened across the Des Moines River for the Avenue of the Saints on December 8, 2004. This replaced the tolled St. Francisville Bridge to the east and coincided with the completion of a new four-lane roadway leading south to U.S. 61 at Wayland. That roadway was designated Missouri 27 to match Iowa 27.1
Expansion of the route north to U.S. 218 to four lanes was completed on August 25, 2005. A ceremony marked the completion of Avenue of the Saints corridor as an expressway or freeway throughout Iowa on June 16, 2006 at Mount Pleasant High School in Henry County.1
Avenue of the Saints Guides
North
South
South
Iowa 27 leaves the parclo interchange with U.S. 218 south and 180th Avenue north to travel solo for the remaining ten miles to the Missouri state line.
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The community of Argyle lies five miles ahead as the final destination in Iowa. Wayland, Missouri, where the Avenue of the Saints couples with U.S. 61, follows in 16 miles.
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Next along Iowa 27 (Avenue of the Saints) south is junction Lee County J62 (255th Street).
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County Road J62 travels west seven miles to Croton while en route to Farmington. Eastward the route crosses U.S. 218 at Charleston and ends at U.S. 61 in southwest Fort Madison.
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Iowa 27 kinks westward to overtake 180th Avenue (former IA 394) ahead of the Sugar Creek valley.
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180th Avenue (former IA 394) emerges again to the west as Iowa 27 bypasses Argyle.
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Iowa 27 reassurance marker posted south of the 180th Avenue split. There is no direct access to Argyle due to bridges over the BNSF /AMTRAK railroad line.
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A half mile south of Argyle, Iowa 27 (Avenue of the Saints) intersects Lee County J72 (300th Street).
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County Road J72 connects Iowa 27 with parallel 180th Avenue leading back north to Argyle and U.S. 218 six miles to the east near Montrose.
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The Avenue of the Saints recurves westward to again overtake 180th Avenue.
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180th Avenue ties into Iowa 27 opposite County Road W62 (Argyle Road) south toward Mooar.
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County Road W62 (Argyle Road) provides a final direct route to Keokuk via connections with U.S. 61/218.
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One final series of bluffs remain before Iowa 27 drops onto the Des Moines River flood plain at Vincennes.
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The last shield for Iowa 27 south stands after 320th Street.
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Iowa 27 intersects Belfast Road before crossing the Des Moines River into Missouri.
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Iowa 27 spans the Des Moines River to become Missouri 27 as the Avenue of the Saints bypasses the community of St. Francisville to the west.
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Photo Credits:
- AARoads: 04/13/13
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Page Updated Friday July 31, 2015.