U.S. 218 South - Olds to Mount Pleasant

The Avenue of the Saints separates from the original two lane alignment of U.S. 218 (James Avenue) at the Henry County line. The expressway shifts east to bypass the city of Olds.

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School Avenue provides the main entry point to the city of Olds from U.S. 218/Iowa 27 by this shield assembly.

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Iowa 78 emerges from the city of Olds and old U.S. 218 (Main Street / James Avenue) to cross the Avenue of the Saints at 190th Street.

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Iowa 78 follows a stair stepped route between Wayland and Winfield through northern Henry County.

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Iowa 78 travels 95 miles overall between Iowa 149 near Martinsburg and U.S. 61 in southern Louisa County.

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Continuing south from Iowa 78 on U.S. 218 at milepost 55.

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County Road H18 connects U.S. 218/Iowa 27 with the adjacent settlement of Swedesburg as the Avenue of the Saints again overtakes James Avenue (old U.S. 218).

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Three miles further south, U.S. 218/Iowa 27 intersect CR H28 (170th Street).

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CR H28 runs five miles west along the Wayne and Marion township line toward Trenton and eight miles east toward the city of Mount Union.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 remain south for another 1.25 miles before shifting westward toward Mount Pleasant.

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200th Street doubles as Henry County Route H34 east from the Avenue of the Saints to Canaan township and the Des Moines County line.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 upgrade to a freeway bypassing Mount Pleasant beyond Iowa Avenue.
Iowa Avenue branches southwest beyond this sign as the original alignment of U.S. 161 / 218 leading to Broadway Street and Downtown.

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The Mount Pleasant bypass opened initially on December 2001 and fully by August 1, 2002.¹ The freeway takes U.S. 218 east around the city alongside U.S. 34 from Exits 45 to 42. U.S. 218 Business follows the former alignment on Grand Avenue.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 south cross Big Creek ahead of the wye interchange (Exit 45) with U.S. 218 Business (Grand Avenue) south.

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U.S. 218 Business south provides the connection to U.S. 34/Iowa 163 leading west to Fairfield and Ottumwa. The link from Exit 45 to the parclo interchange with U.S. 34 is unsigned Iowa 438.

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U.S. 34/Iowa 163 east combine with U.S. 218/Iowa 27 south at an adjacent wye interchange. The two routes travel along a freeway west to Westwood and an expressway from there past Rome and Lockridge. Iowa 163 is the designation given to the four lane corridor linking Des Moines with Burlington.

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West Burlington lies 26 miles to the east via U.S. 34/Iowa 163 while Keokuk is a 44 mile drive to the south via U.S. 218.

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U.S. 218 Business (Washington Street) leads west from the six ramp parclo interchange at Exit 42 toward Downtown Mount Pleasant.

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The Avenue of the Saints enters the Mount Pleasant city limits a half mile south of the County Route H38 overpass. U.S. 218 vacates the city at Exit 40.

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U.S. 34/Iowa 163 follow an expressway southeast seven miles to New London and 19 miles to Danville. The rest of the route east to West Burlington and Gulfport, Illinois is a freeway.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 line the west side of East Lake Park to the diamond interchange (Exit 40) with 255th Street.

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255th Street connects with U.S. 218 east from adjacent Grand Avenue. The Avenue of the Saints expressway overtakes Grand Avenue south at the second crossing over Big Creek.

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Southbound at Exit 40 to 255th Street north back into Mount Pleasant. 255th Street east serves East Lake Park and Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) via County Route W75 (Lexington Avenue).

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Driveways and local roads again tie into U.S. 218 as the freeway downgrades back into an expressway.

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St. Louis debut to drivers taking the Avenue of the Saints southbound at 224 miles out. Donnellson is the next city along U.S. 218 in 22 miles.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 span the Skunk River just south of Iowa Avenue (the first alignment of U.S. 218).

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Passing by milepost 35 ahead of Fish Creek on U.S. 218/Iowa 27 south.

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Henry County Route J20 (Salem Road) meets U.S. 218/Iowa 27 next.

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Salem Road runs west three miles to link U.S. 218 with the city of Salem while CR J20 east meanders to Lowell.

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U.S. 218/Iowa 27 bee line southward 2.25 miles to the Lee County line.

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Motorists cross the Lee County line amid open farm land between 335th and 110th Streets.

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