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==Route description== |
==Route description== |
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U.S. Route 30 extends from west to east across the central portion of the state, with much of the highway traveling through rolling farmland. Small towns dot the entire route, which connects the larger cities and towns of |
U.S. Route 30 extends from west to east across the central portion of the state, with much of the highway traveling through rolling farmland. Small towns dot the entire route, which connects the larger cities and towns of Denison, Ames, Cedar Rapids, and Clinton. Between [[Ogden, Iowa|Ogden]] and [[Mount Vernon, Iowa|Mount Vernon]], significant portions of the highway have been upgraded to a four-lane freeway.<ref name="DOT2010" /> |
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===Western Iowa=== |
===Western Iowa=== |
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US 30 enters Iowa by crossing [[Blair Bridge (U.S. Route 30)|Blair Bridge]] over the [[Missouri River]] east of [[Blair, Nebraska]]. Adjacent to the highway bridge is the [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific Railroad's]] river crossing for the [[Overland Route (Union Pacific Railroad)|Overland Route]]. The highway runs roughly parallel to the rail line for its entire run across Iowa.<ref name="UPRR routes"/><ref name="DOT Rail"/> For {{convert|9|mi}}, it passes through the flat Missouri River bottoms, passing [[DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge]] on the way to [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley]].<ref name="DOT length"/> At Missouri Valley, it intersects [[Interstate 29 (Iowa)|Interstate 29]] (I-29) at a [[partial cloverleaf interchange]]. East of Missouri Valley, it enters the [[Boyer River]] valley through the [[Loess Hills]], a region of [[loess|wind-deposited silt]] extending from north of [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]] to extreme northwestern [[Missouri]].<ref name="USGS Loess" /> The rolling Loess Hills rise {{convert|50|-|100|ft}} above the roadway while the land in the valley stays relatively flat.<ref name="ISU Ortho GIS Topo" /> East of the Loess Hills, US 30 enters [[Logan, Iowa|Logan]] and intersects the eastern end of [[Iowa Highway 127]] (Iowa 127). East of Logan, the highway runs parallel to the Boyer River, as well as the Overland Route, in a general northeast direction.<ref name="DOT2010" /> Four miles ({{convert|4|mi|km|disp=output only}}) east of Logan is the western end of [[Iowa Highway 44|Iowa 44]], which extends {{convert|105|mi}} to [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]].<ref name="DOT length"/> |
US 30 enters Iowa by crossing [[Blair Bridge (U.S. Route 30)|Blair Bridge]] over the [[Missouri River]] east of [[Blair, Nebraska]]. Adjacent to the highway bridge is the [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific Railroad's]] river crossing for the [[Overland Route (Union Pacific Railroad)|Overland Route]]. The highway runs roughly parallel to the rail line for its entire run across Iowa.<ref name="UPRR routes"/><ref name="DOT Rail"/> For {{convert|9|mi}}, it passes through the flat Missouri River bottoms, passing [[DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge]] on the way to [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley]].<ref name="DOT length"/> At Missouri Valley, it intersects [[Interstate 29 (Iowa)|Interstate 29]] (I-29) at a [[partial cloverleaf interchange]]. East of Missouri Valley, it enters the [[Boyer River]] valley through the [[Loess Hills]], a region of [[loess|wind-deposited silt]] extending from north of [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]] to extreme northwestern [[Missouri]].<ref name="USGS Loess" /> The rolling Loess Hills rise {{convert|50|-|100|ft}} above the roadway while the land in the valley stays relatively flat.<ref name="ISU Ortho GIS Topo" /> East of the Loess Hills, US 30 enters [[Logan, Iowa|Logan]] and intersects the eastern end of [[Iowa Highway 127]] (Iowa 127). East of Logan, the highway runs parallel to the Boyer River, as well as the Overland Route, in a general northeast direction.<ref name="DOT2010" /> Four miles ({{convert|4|mi|km|disp=output only}}) east of Logan is the western end of [[Iowa Highway 44|Iowa 44]], which extends {{convert|105|mi}} to [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]].<ref name="DOT length"/> |
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The highway enters [[Crawford County, Iowa|Crawford County]] north of [[Dunlap, Iowa|Dunlap]] in [[Harrison County, Iowa|Harrison County]]. For {{convert|17|mi}}, US 30 passes through farmland and the small communities of [[Dow City, Iowa|Dow City]] and [[Arion, Iowa|Arion]]. At |
The highway enters [[Crawford County, Iowa|Crawford County]] north of [[Dunlap, Iowa|Dunlap]] in [[Harrison County, Iowa|Harrison County]]. For {{convert|17|mi}}, US 30 passes through farmland and the small communities of [[Dow City, Iowa|Dow City]] and [[Arion, Iowa|Arion]]. At Denison, it overlaps [[U.S. Route 59]] (US 59) and [[Iowa Highway 141|Iowa 141]], which [[concurrency (road)|run concurrently]] through Denison, for a half-mile ({{convert|0.5|mi|km|disp=output only}}).<ref name="DOT length"/> East of Denison, it follows the East Boyer River as the Boyer River forks west of the northern intersection with US 59 / Iowa 141. US 30 travels north-northeasterly towards [[Vail, Iowa|Vail]]. Between Vail and [[Westside, Iowa|Westside]], the highway ceases following the East Boyer River and heads due east towards [[Arcadia, Iowa|Arcadia]] and Carroll in [[Carroll County, Iowa|Carroll County]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> |
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At Carroll, it intersects [[U.S. Route 71 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 71]] at a [[Intersection (road)|signal-controlled intersection]]. East of Carroll, it passes through the town of [[Glidden, Iowa|Glidden]] and passes to the north of [[Ralston, Iowa|Ralston]], west of the [[Greene County, Iowa|Greene County]] line. North of [[Scranton, Iowa|Scranton]], it meets the northern end of [[Iowa Highway 25]]. Between Scranton and [[Jefferson, Iowa|Jefferson]], US 30 crosses the [[Raccoon River]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> At Jefferson and [[Grand Junction, Iowa|Grand Junction]], the latter of the cities named for its location at the junction of the historic [[Chicago & Northwestern]] and [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]]s,<ref name="1898 Atlas" /> now both owned by [[Union Pacific]], US 30 crosses [[Iowa Highway 4]] and [[Iowa Highway 144]] on the northern edge of each town, respectively. East of Grand Junction, the highway passes over the Overland Route where it stays south of the railroad until [[Le Grand, Iowa|Le Grand]].<ref name="DOT Rail" /> |
At Carroll, it intersects [[U.S. Route 71 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 71]] at a [[Intersection (road)|signal-controlled intersection]]. East of Carroll, it passes through the town of [[Glidden, Iowa|Glidden]] and passes to the north of [[Ralston, Iowa|Ralston]], west of the [[Greene County, Iowa|Greene County]] line. North of [[Scranton, Iowa|Scranton]], it meets the northern end of [[Iowa Highway 25]]. Between Scranton and [[Jefferson, Iowa|Jefferson]], US 30 crosses the [[Raccoon River]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> At Jefferson and [[Grand Junction, Iowa|Grand Junction]], the latter of the cities named for its location at the junction of the historic [[Chicago & Northwestern]] and [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]]s,<ref name="1898 Atlas" /> now both owned by [[Union Pacific]], US 30 crosses [[Iowa Highway 4]] and [[Iowa Highway 144]] on the northern edge of each town, respectively. East of Grand Junction, the highway passes over the Overland Route where it stays south of the railroad until [[Le Grand, Iowa|Le Grand]].<ref name="DOT Rail" /> |
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===Central Iowa=== |
===Central Iowa=== |
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Four miles ({{convert|4|mi|disp=output only}}) west of [[Ogden, Iowa|Ogden]], US 30 is joined by [[U.S. Route 169 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 169]] from the north. The two highways run concurrently until reaching Ogden, where the road becomes a four-lane expressway. US 169 exits to the south at a [[partial cloverleaf interchange]]. It continues east through |
Four miles ({{convert|4|mi|disp=output only}}) west of [[Ogden, Iowa|Ogden]], US 30 is joined by [[U.S. Route 169 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 169]] from the north. The two highways run concurrently until reaching Ogden, where the road becomes a four-lane expressway. US 169 exits to the south at a [[partial cloverleaf interchange]]. It continues east through Boone County and descends into the [[Des Moines River]] valley.<ref name="DOT2010" /> Despite the {{convert|1|mi|adj=on}} wide valley, due to the river's meandering course, the historic [[Kate Shelley High Bridge]], which is {{convert|1+1/2|mi}} north of US 30, is not visible from the route. It ascends from the valley and travels another {{convert|2|mi}} to a [[four-way stop]] in Boone, which is the last stop along the route until US 63 in [[Toledo, Iowa|Toledo]]. Three miles ({{convert|3|mi|disp=output only}}) east of Boone, it meets [[Iowa Highway 17]] at a diamond interchange. One mile (1.6 ) east of that interchange is a shortcut to northbound Iowa 17.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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Traffic is filtered into |
Traffic is filtered into Ames and [[Iowa State University]] (ISU) from US 30 through five interchanges. On the outskirts of Ames are the Lincoln Way interchanges. Access to and from Lincoln Way is handled by two half interchanges {{convert|3/4|mi}} apart. From the interchanges to the [[Story County, Iowa|Story County]] line {{convert|1+3/4|mi}} away, Lincoln Way is designated as Iowa Highway 930, but is never signed as such.<ref name="DOT length" /> The South Dakota Avenue interchange primarily serves the southwestern part of Ames. The University Boulevard (formerly Elwood Drive) exit provides access to the Iowa State University campus and [[Iowa State Center]], ISU's cultural and athletics complex. The Duff Avenue interchange provides access to Ames's east side. [[U.S. Route 69 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 69]] and [[Interstate 35 Business (Ames, Iowa)|Interstate 35 Business]] (I-35 Bus.) are designated along Duff Avenue. From Duff to [[Interstate 35 (Iowa)|Interstate 35]], US 30 is overlapped by I-35 Bus. Between the Duff and Dayton Avenue interchanges, it crosses the [[Skunk River|South Skunk River]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> The Dayton Avenue interchange serves hotels and restaurants and is a travel stop for I-35 travelers. |
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East of the Dayton Avenue interchange is [[Interstate 35 (Iowa)|Interstate 35]], which connects US 30 to [[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]], to the north, and [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] to the south. Continuing east, the expressway travels {{convert|6+1/2|mi}} to [[Nevada, Iowa|Nevada]] and then {{convert|6|mi}} more to |
East of the Dayton Avenue interchange is [[Interstate 35 (Iowa)|Interstate 35]], which connects US 30 to [[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]], to the north, and [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] to the south. Continuing east, the expressway travels {{convert|6+1/2|mi}} to [[Nevada, Iowa|Nevada]] and then {{convert|6|mi}} more to Colo, where the four-lane expressway ends at the [[U.S. Route 65 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 65]] interchange. Fifteen miles ({{convert|15|mi|disp=output only}}) separates the US 65 and [[Iowa Highway 330]] interchanges. Just before the Iowa 330 interchange, the road becomes a four-lane expressway again. One mile (1.6 km) to the east are two half-interchanges with U.S. Route 30 Business, the only [[business route]] of US 30 in Iowa.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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[[File:Lincoln Highway Bridge, Tama, IA.jpg|thumb|The Lincoln Highway bridge in |
[[File:Lincoln Highway Bridge, Tama, IA.jpg|thumb|The Lincoln Highway bridge in Tama|alt=A small concrete bridge crosses a stream. The sides of the bridge were designed to spell out "Lincoln Highway".]] |
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US 30 bypasses Marshalltown approximately {{convert|1/4|mi}} south of its business loop. Near [[Marshalltown Community College]], it intersects [[Iowa Highway 14]] at a diamond interchange. The 18th Street interchange on the southeastern side of Marhsalltown is the eastern end of the business loop. From Marshalltown, it travels {{convert|5|mi}} to |
US 30 bypasses Marshalltown approximately {{convert|1/4|mi}} south of its business loop. Near [[Marshalltown Community College]], it intersects [[Iowa Highway 14]] at a diamond interchange. The 18th Street interchange on the southeastern side of Marhsalltown is the eastern end of the business loop. From Marshalltown, it travels {{convert|5|mi}} to Le Grand, crossing over the Overland Route rail corridor on the west side.<ref name="DOT Rail" /> It bypasses Le Grand to the north, where it intersects the northern end of [[Iowa Highway 146]] at a diamond interchange. Continuing east, the highway enters [[Tama County, Iowa|Tama County]]. It rises over a large hill north of [[Montour, Iowa|Montour]] and then descends into the [[Iowa River]] valley.<ref name="DOT2010" /> East of the Iowa River is the [[Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa|Meskwaki Settlement]], home to about 800 [[Meskwaki]] Indians and the Meskwaki Casino and Resort.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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One-half mile (0.8 km) east of the casino, US 30 becomes a two-lane road, a configuration which it keeps for the next {{convert|30|mi}}. It enters |
One-half mile (0.8 km) east of the casino, US 30 becomes a two-lane road, a configuration which it keeps for the next {{convert|30|mi}}. It enters Toledo on its south where it intersects [[U.S. Route 63 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 63]] at a signal-controlled intersection. From US 63, it turns to the southeast to skirt Tama east side. It turns east again by a roadside park, on the south side of which is Tama's Lincoln Highway bridge. From Tama, it heads due east, along section lines in Tama and Benton Counties, and does not enter another town for {{convert|40|mi}}.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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===Eastern Iowa=== |
===Eastern Iowa=== |
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On the west end of Cedar Rapids, US 30 / US 218 turn to the southeast at the 16th Avenue SW interchange. Two miles (3.2 km) to the southeast is the [[Williams Boulevard (Cedar Rapids)|Williams Boulevard]] interchange, where [[U.S. Route 151]] joins US 30 and US 218. For {{convert|4|mi}}, US 30 / US 151 / US 218 is a [[wrong-way concurrency]]; where US 30 runs east, US 151 runs north and US 218 runs south. At the [[Interstate 380 (Iowa)|Interstate 380]] interchange, US 218 leaves US 30 / US 151 and joins the [[Avenue of the Saints]] highway. East of I-380, US 30 / US 151 serves as a divider between the Lincolnway Village neighborhood to the south and a light industrial district to the north.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
On the west end of Cedar Rapids, US 30 / US 218 turn to the southeast at the 16th Avenue SW interchange. Two miles (3.2 km) to the southeast is the [[Williams Boulevard (Cedar Rapids)|Williams Boulevard]] interchange, where [[U.S. Route 151]] joins US 30 and US 218. For {{convert|4|mi}}, US 30 / US 151 / US 218 is a [[wrong-way concurrency]]; where US 30 runs east, US 151 runs north and US 218 runs south. At the [[Interstate 380 (Iowa)|Interstate 380]] interchange, US 218 leaves US 30 / US 151 and joins the [[Avenue of the Saints]] highway. East of I-380, US 30 / US 151 serves as a divider between the Lincolnway Village neighborhood to the south and a light industrial district to the north.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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South of [[Bertram, Iowa|Bertram]], the two routes cross the [[Cedar River (Iowa River)|Cedar River]] before US 151 splits away from US 30 to the north at a [[trumpet interchange]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> This interchange is the southern end of [[Iowa Highway 13]]. It continues east towards |
South of [[Bertram, Iowa|Bertram]], the two routes cross the [[Cedar River (Iowa River)|Cedar River]] before US 151 splits away from US 30 to the north at a [[trumpet interchange]].<ref name="DOT2010" /> This interchange is the southern end of [[Iowa Highway 13]]. It continues east towards Mount Vernon, {{convert|2|mi}} west of which, the four-lane highway becomes a two-lane road. In Mount Vernon, it intersects [[Iowa Highway 1]] at a four-way intersection, the first stop since Tama. One mile (1.6 km) from Iowa 1, it enters [[Lisbon, Iowa|Lisbon]].<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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Over the next {{convert|45|mi}}, US 30 passes through a small town every {{convert|4|-|7|mi}}. In [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar County]], it passes through [[Mechanicsville, Iowa|Mechanicsville]], [[Stanwood, Iowa|Stanwood]], [[Clarence, Iowa|Clarence]] and [[Lowden, Iowa|Lowden]]. In Stanwood, it is overlapped by [[Iowa Highway 38]] for one mile (1.6 km). In [[Clinton County, Iowa|Clinton County]], it passes through [[Wheatland, Iowa|Wheatland]], [[Calamus, Iowa|Calamus]], and [[Grand Mound, Iowa|Grand Mound]] before reaching a full [[cloverleaf interchange]] with [[U.S. Route 61 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 61]] at |
Over the next {{convert|45|mi}}, US 30 passes through a small town every {{convert|4|-|7|mi}}. In [[Cedar County, Iowa|Cedar County]], it passes through [[Mechanicsville, Iowa|Mechanicsville]], [[Stanwood, Iowa|Stanwood]], [[Clarence, Iowa|Clarence]] and [[Lowden, Iowa|Lowden]]. In Stanwood, it is overlapped by [[Iowa Highway 38]] for one mile (1.6 km). In [[Clinton County, Iowa|Clinton County]], it passes through [[Wheatland, Iowa|Wheatland]], [[Calamus, Iowa|Calamus]], and [[Grand Mound, Iowa|Grand Mound]] before reaching a full [[cloverleaf interchange]] with [[U.S. Route 61 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 61]] at DeWitt. US 30 overlaps US 61 for one mile (1.6 km), crossing the Union Pacific Overland Route in the process, and leaves via a trumpet interchange.<ref name="DOT length" /> |
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[[File:Gateway Bridge Illinois-Iowa 2.jpg|thumb|left|US 30 crosses the Mississippi River at Clinton via the Gateway Bridge.|alt=A bridge crosses a river]] |
[[File:Gateway Bridge Illinois-Iowa 2.jpg|thumb|left|US 30 crosses the Mississippi River at Clinton via the Gateway Bridge.|alt=A bridge crosses a river]] |
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US 30 continues east as an expressway, passing DeWitt to the south. Five miles ({{convert|5|mi|disp=output only}}) east of DeWitt, it crosses back over to the north side of the Overland Route.<ref name="DOT length" /> West of the |
US 30 continues east as an expressway, passing DeWitt to the south. Five miles ({{convert|5|mi|disp=output only}}) east of DeWitt, it crosses back over to the north side of the Overland Route.<ref name="DOT length" /> West of the Clinton city limits is an interchange with Clinton County Road Z36 (CR Z36), which serves [[Low Moor, Iowa|Low Moor]] and as a shortcut to southbound [[U.S. Route 67 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 67]]. East of CR Z36, it passes the [[Clinton Municipal Airport (Iowa)|Clinton Municipal Airport]] and a large chemical plant.<ref name="DOT2010" /> As it approaches Mill Creek Parkway, it descends over {{convert|100|ft}} in elevation into the flat [[Mississippi River]] valley, where it meets [[U.S. Route 67 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 67]].<ref name="ISU GIS Clinton">{{cite web|url=http://ortho.gis.iastate.edu/client.cgi?zoom=5&x0=729390&y0=4633029&layer=drg24&action=pan&pwidth=900&pheight=900&x=129&y=478|title=Iowa Geographic Map Server|last=Iowa State University|accessdate=July 4, 2010}}</ref> |
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US 30 / US 67 head east along Lincoln Way and ascend {{convert|50|ft}} onto a plateau, atop which reside stores and restaurants.<ref name="ISU GIS Clinton" /> As they continue east, the two routes split into one-way streets, eastbound Liberty Avenue and westbound Camanche Avenue. The one-way street alignment ends at 11th Avenue South, but quickly begins again as US 30 / US 67 turn to the north onto northbound S. Third Street and southbound S. Fourth Street. At Eighth Avenue South, US 30 splits away from US 67 and onto the [[Gateway Bridge (Clinton)|Gateway Bridge]], crossing into [[Illinois]].<ref name="DOT Clinton" /> |
US 30 / US 67 head east along Lincoln Way and ascend {{convert|50|ft}} onto a plateau, atop which reside stores and restaurants.<ref name="ISU GIS Clinton" /> As they continue east, the two routes split into one-way streets, eastbound Liberty Avenue and westbound Camanche Avenue. The one-way street alignment ends at 11th Avenue South, but quickly begins again as US 30 / US 67 turn to the north onto northbound S. Third Street and southbound S. Fourth Street. At Eighth Avenue South, US 30 splits away from US 67 and onto the [[Gateway Bridge (Clinton)|Gateway Bridge]], crossing into [[Illinois]].<ref name="DOT Clinton" /> |
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While US 30 was created in 1926, the route itself dates back to the 1913 when the [[Lincoln Highway]] was designated across the country. The brainchild of [[Carl Fisher]], the Lincoln Highway was the first highway to cross the United States, connecting [[New York City]] to [[San Francisco]]. In Iowa, it was uncertain exactly where the Lincoln Highway would run. As of August 1913, no definite route had been planned; the only certainty was the route would pass through Iowa. Over $5 million (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|5000000|1913}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US}}) had been raised already for the construction of the road.<ref name="DMTrib 09031913" /> On September 14, 1913, the Lincoln Highway route was announced. The highway was designated across {{convert|358|mi}} of dirt roads, connecting |
While US 30 was created in 1926, the route itself dates back to the 1913 when the [[Lincoln Highway]] was designated across the country. The brainchild of [[Carl Fisher]], the Lincoln Highway was the first highway to cross the United States, connecting [[New York City]] to [[San Francisco]]. In Iowa, it was uncertain exactly where the Lincoln Highway would run. As of August 1913, no definite route had been planned; the only certainty was the route would pass through Iowa. Over $5 million (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|5000000|1913}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US}}) had been raised already for the construction of the road.<ref name="DMTrib 09031913" /> On September 14, 1913, the Lincoln Highway route was announced. The highway was designated across {{convert|358|mi}} of dirt roads, connecting Clinton, DeWitt, Cedar Rapids, Tama, Marshalltown, Ames, Jefferson, Denison, Logan, and Council Bluffs.<ref name="Thompson" /> The route was marked by a red, white, and blue tricolor emblazoned with an L. The route markers were painted upon telephone poles, bridges, and nearby buildings to show travelers the way.<ref name="Gladding" /> |
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[[File:UPRR bridge over Lincoln Highway.jpg|thumb|left|The Lincoln Highway passes beneath a [[Union Pacific Railroad]] bridge in [[State Center, Iowa|State Center]] with the "L" logo painted on the bridge support.|alt=A highway passes underneath a train bridge.]] |
[[File:UPRR bridge over Lincoln Highway.jpg|thumb|left|The Lincoln Highway passes beneath a [[Union Pacific Railroad]] bridge in [[State Center, Iowa|State Center]] with the "L" logo painted on the bridge support.|alt=A highway passes underneath a train bridge.]] |
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While not ideal for transcontinental travel, Iowa's dirt roads were very good roads; that is, when they were dry. Some people even compared them to the best roads in France. The same could not be said, however, when the roads were wet. The mud was so vicious and so viscous, that it was referred to as "gumbo".<ref name="LHA Seedling"/> To show travelers the obvious benefits of paved roads, the [[Lincoln Highway Association]] began the process of creating ''seedling miles'' of paved roads. The idea, according to [[Henry B. Joy]], then-president of the Lincoln Highway Association, was to show travelers, for one mile (1.6 km), how fast and smooth their trip could be, only to bring them back to reality at the end of the mile. Seedling miles were placed at least {{convert|6|mi}} from the nearest town and in areas where the terrain was rough. Between August 1918 and June 1919, Iowa's first seedling mile was built in [[Linn County, Iowa|Linn County]], west of |
While not ideal for transcontinental travel, Iowa's dirt roads were very good roads; that is, when they were dry. Some people even compared them to the best roads in France. The same could not be said, however, when the roads were wet. The mud was so vicious and so viscous, that it was referred to as "gumbo".<ref name="LHA Seedling"/> To show travelers the obvious benefits of paved roads, the [[Lincoln Highway Association]] began the process of creating ''seedling miles'' of paved roads. The idea, according to [[Henry B. Joy]], then-president of the Lincoln Highway Association, was to show travelers, for one mile (1.6 km), how fast and smooth their trip could be, only to bring them back to reality at the end of the mile. Seedling miles were placed at least {{convert|6|mi}} from the nearest town and in areas where the terrain was rough. Between August 1918 and June 1919, Iowa's first seedling mile was built in [[Linn County, Iowa|Linn County]], west of Mount Vernon. The ribbon of concrete, which was {{convert|16|ft|m}} wide, {{convert|7+1/2|in|cm}} thick, and crowned for drainage {{convert|1+1/2|in|cm}}, cost nearly $35,000 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|35000|1919}}|2}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US}}) to build.<ref name="LHA Seedling" /> |
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Despite the success of the seedling miles across the country, Iowa lagged behind other states in improving its roads. Before 1924, Iowa's 99 counties, not the state highway commission, were responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's roads.<ref name="IPTV" /> In the 1920s, road paving cost $30,000-per-mile (${{convert|30000|km|mi|disp=output number only}}-per-kilometer), ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|30000|1913}}|-3}}-per-mile (${{convert|{{Inflation|US|30|1913}}|km|mi|disp=output number only}} thousand-per-kilometer) in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US}}; for counties, the cost of construction was a major deterrent.<ref name=Thompson /> When counties could afford to build roads, the [[Iowa State Highway Commission]] required extensive grading to be done before paving. By 1922, {{convert|334|mi}}, only five percent of roads were paved. By 1924, twenty percent of the Lincoln Highway in Iowa had been paved, and by 1931, it was paved continuously from [[New York City]] to [[Missouri Valley, Iowa]]<ref name="LHA Seedling" /> |
Despite the success of the seedling miles across the country, Iowa lagged behind other states in improving its roads. Before 1924, Iowa's 99 counties, not the state highway commission, were responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's roads.<ref name="IPTV" /> In the 1920s, road paving cost $30,000-per-mile (${{convert|30000|km|mi|disp=output number only}}-per-kilometer), ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|30000|1913}}|-3}}-per-mile (${{convert|{{Inflation|US|30|1913}}|km|mi|disp=output number only}} thousand-per-kilometer) in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{Inflation-fn|US}}; for counties, the cost of construction was a major deterrent.<ref name=Thompson /> When counties could afford to build roads, the [[Iowa State Highway Commission]] required extensive grading to be done before paving. By 1922, {{convert|334|mi}}, only five percent of roads were paved. By 1924, twenty percent of the Lincoln Highway in Iowa had been paved, and by 1931, it was paved continuously from [[New York City]] to [[Missouri Valley, Iowa]]<ref name="LHA Seedling" /> |
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| caption2 = 1948 design |
| caption2 = 1948 design |
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When the Lincoln Highway became U.S. Route 30 in 1926, the route was {{convert|358|mi}} long and passed through every town along the way.<ref name="Thompson" /> Starting in the 1930s, the route's alignment began to be straightened. By the mid-1930s, it was routed west of [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley]] on old Iowa Highway 130. The US 30 alignment south of Missouri Valley became U.S. Route 30 Alternate.<ref name="ISU Ortho GIS" /> By 1952, it had moved south of |
When the Lincoln Highway became U.S. Route 30 in 1926, the route was {{convert|358|mi}} long and passed through every town along the way.<ref name="Thompson" /> Starting in the 1930s, the route's alignment began to be straightened. By the mid-1930s, it was routed west of [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley]] on old Iowa Highway 130. The US 30 alignment south of Missouri Valley became U.S. Route 30 Alternate.<ref name="ISU Ortho GIS" /> By 1952, it had moved south of Marshalltown and was replaced by [[Iowa Highway 330]] and a {{convert|17|mi|adj=on}} southern jaunt through Belle Plaine had been replaced by a straight road.<ref name=DOT1952 /> In 1955 a couple of routing changes occurred. In [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa|Cedar Rapids]], it began its move to the south, avoiding the downtown area, and in Clinton, it was rerouted over the [[Gateway Bridge (Illinois-Iowa)|Gateway Bridge]], allowing [[Iowa Highway 136]] to cross the [[Lyons-Fulton Bridge]].<ref name=DOT1956/> However, by 1957, the old alignment through Clinton and across the Lyons-Fulton Bridge was numbered U.S. Route 30 Alternate.<ref name=DOT1957 /> |
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===1960s–1980s=== |
===1960s–1980s=== |
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In the 1960–1970s, freeway segments along US 30 started to be built. In 1965, it was straightened and rerouted to the south of |
In the 1960–1970s, freeway segments along US 30 started to be built. In 1965, it was straightened and rerouted to the south of Ogden and Boone along an {{convert|11|mi|adj=on}}, four-lane stretch of road.<ref name=DOT1965 /> By the end of the 1960s, both of the alternate routes had been turned over to local jurisdictions. The western route became [[Iowa Highway 183]], and the eastern route reverted back to [[Iowa Highway 136]]. By 1973, that new stretch of road had been extended {{convert|14|mi}} along a four-lane bypass around Ames. The old alignment became Iowa Highway 930.<ref name=DOT1973 /> In eastern Iowa, a new, {{convert|20|mi|adj=on}} long freeway connected DeWitt and Clinton by 1976.<ref name=DOT1976 /> By 1985, the bypass of Cedar Rapids had been completed from 16th Avenue SW to [[Iowa Highway 13]] near [[Bertram, Iowa|Bertram]]. By 1989, the bypass was extended {{convert|5|mi}} further west.<ref name=DOT1989 /> Between 1996 and 2000, an $8.2 million extension (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|8200000|1996}}|-3}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) was built to connect the bypass to the western intersection of [[U.S. Route 218]].<ref name="1996 Gazette" /><ref name=DOT2000 /> |
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Since the Cedar Rapids bypass was completed in 1985, on occasion, traffic has had to be rerouted off of US 30. The bypass's proximity to the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] mainline resulted in an elevated roadway between Edgewood Road and Sixth Street SW. When strong winds come from the south, fog produced by an [[Archer Daniels Midland]] plant adjacent to the highway billows over the road making driving dangerous.<ref name="Gazette1231" /> The Iowa DOT set up an emergency detour from Edgewood Road SW north to 16th Avenue SW east to 6th Street SW back to US 30. The frequency of fog-related detours has decreased in recent years due to improved technology and the plant's expansion and relocation of cooling towers away from the highway.<ref name="Gazette1231" /> |
Since the Cedar Rapids bypass was completed in 1985, on occasion, traffic has had to be rerouted off of US 30. The bypass's proximity to the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] mainline resulted in an elevated roadway between Edgewood Road and Sixth Street SW. When strong winds come from the south, fog produced by an [[Archer Daniels Midland]] plant adjacent to the highway billows over the road making driving dangerous.<ref name="Gazette1231" /> The Iowa DOT set up an emergency detour from Edgewood Road SW north to 16th Avenue SW east to 6th Street SW back to US 30. The frequency of fog-related detours has decreased in recent years due to improved technology and the plant's expansion and relocation of cooling towers away from the highway.<ref name="Gazette1231" /> |
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===1990s to the present=== |
===1990s to the present=== |
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The 1990s saw more construction of four-lane roads along US 30. Stretches of four-lane roads that had already been constructed were extended towards other communities. In [[Story County, Iowa|Story County]], it was widened to four lanes from the [[Interstate 35 (Iowa)|Interstate 35]] interchange to [[U.S. Route 65 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 65]] at |
The 1990s saw more construction of four-lane roads along US 30. Stretches of four-lane roads that had already been constructed were extended towards other communities. In [[Story County, Iowa|Story County]], it was widened to four lanes from the [[Interstate 35 (Iowa)|Interstate 35]] interchange to [[U.S. Route 65 (Iowa)|U.S. Route 65]] at Colo. The original 1950s-era bypass of Marshalltown was itself bypassed in 1997 by a freeway {{convert|3/4|mi}} south of the original bypass.<ref name="DOT length"/> That road, Iowa Avenue in Marshalltown, was designated as U.S. Route 30 Business, the first business route along US 30 in Iowa. The four-lane stretch southeast of Cedar Rapids was extended another {{convert|5|mi}} to a point {{convert|2|mi}} west of Mount Vernon, costing $5.6 million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|5600000|1996}}|-3}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) to build.<ref name="1996 Gazette" /><ref name=DOT1997 /> |
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The 21st century has seen and will continue to see the widening of US 30. In 2004, an $18.6-million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|18600000|1996}}|-3}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}), four-lane section opened from east of Marshalltown to the [[Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa|Meskwaki Settlement]] west of |
The 21st century has seen and will continue to see the widening of US 30. In 2004, an $18.6-million (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|18600000|1996}}|-3}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}), four-lane section opened from east of Marshalltown to the [[Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa|Meskwaki Settlement]] west of Tama, bypassing Le Grand.<ref name="1996 Gazette" /> Two sections, a {{convert|15|mi|adj=on}} section between Colo and Marshalltown, and another {{convert|7+1/2|mi|adj=on}} section, which will bypass the Tama/Toledo area, are scheduled for construction in 2010 and to be completed in 2011.<ref name="DOT 10-14 plan" /> Upon completion, it will be a four-lane expressway from [[Ogden, Iowa|Ogden]] to Tama, covering {{convert|75|mi}}.<ref name="DOT length"/> |
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===Legacy of the Lincoln Highway=== |
===Legacy of the Lincoln Highway=== |
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[[File:Preston's Station Belle Plaine.jpg|thumb|Preston's Service Station in |
[[File:Preston's Station Belle Plaine.jpg|thumb|Preston's Service Station in Belle Plaine|alt=An old building is covered with old signs.]] |
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While it has not been an official route for {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1926}}<!-- this calculates the years automatically --> years, the Lincoln Highway is still a source of pride in the communities and regions through which it passed. Nearly 85 percent of the original Lincoln Highway is still drivable, although much of it is a [[gravel road]].<ref name="DOT LH bridges" /> Most of what is drivable is either along US 30 or within one mile (1.6 km).<ref name="DOT2010"/> The Lincoln Highway bridge in |
While it has not been an official route for {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1926}}<!-- this calculates the years automatically --> years, the Lincoln Highway is still a source of pride in the communities and regions through which it passed. Nearly 85 percent of the original Lincoln Highway is still drivable, although much of it is a [[gravel road]].<ref name="DOT LH bridges" /> Most of what is drivable is either along US 30 or within one mile (1.6 km).<ref name="DOT2010"/> The Lincoln Highway bridge in Tama was built in 1915. It was restored in the 1980s after local officials feared losing it.<ref name="LHA Tama" /> Preston's Service Station, a landmark of Belle Plaine, has become a Lincoln Highway museum.<ref name="LHA Benton" /> Monuments were built along the route to honor not only [[Abraham Lincoln]],<ref name="LHA Scranton" /> but to honor Iowans who were influential for planning its route.<ref name="LHA Clinton" /> |
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In 1992, the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) was reformed with a chapter in each state through which the highway passed. The new LHA is a historical preservation group that wants to preserve the remaining sections of the highway.<ref name="LHA Contact" /> The Iowa chapter of the LHA has, since 2008, sponsored a tour of the Lincoln Highway. To keep the tour classic-car friendly, the tour does not travel upon the sections of the road which are gravel.<ref name="LHA tour" /> After years of lobbying by the LHA, the [[Iowa Department of Transportation]], in 2006, designated the Lincoln Highway the Iowa Heritage Byway.<ref name="LHA Spr09 news" /> The 2010 Transportation Map of Iowa {{#ifeq:{{CURRENTYEAR}}|2010|shows|showed}} the path designated as the Iowa Heritage Byway for the first time.<ref name="DOT2010"/>{{-}} |
In 1992, the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) was reformed with a chapter in each state through which the highway passed. The new LHA is a historical preservation group that wants to preserve the remaining sections of the highway.<ref name="LHA Contact" /> The Iowa chapter of the LHA has, since 2008, sponsored a tour of the Lincoln Highway. To keep the tour classic-car friendly, the tour does not travel upon the sections of the road which are gravel.<ref name="LHA tour" /> After years of lobbying by the LHA, the [[Iowa Department of Transportation]], in 2006, designated the Lincoln Highway the Iowa Heritage Byway.<ref name="LHA Spr09 news" /> The 2010 Transportation Map of Iowa {{#ifeq:{{CURRENTYEAR}}|2010|shows|showed}} the path designated as the Iowa Heritage Byway for the first time.<ref name="DOT2010"/>{{-}} |
Revision as of 04:09, 13 December 2010
Route information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maintained by Iowa DOT | ||||
Length | 330.914 mi[1] (532.554 km) | |||
Existed | 1926[2]–present | |||
History | Lincoln Highway from 1913–1928[2] | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | US 30 at Blair, Nebr. | |||
I-29 at Missouri Valley US 59 / Iowa 141 at Denison US 71 at Carroll US 169 at Ogden I-35 at Ames US 65 at Colo US 63 at Toledo I-380 / US 218 at Cedar Rapids US 61 at De Witt US 67 at Clinton | ||||
East end | US 30 at Fulton, Ill. | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Iowa | |||
Counties | Harrison, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Linn, Cedar, Clinton | |||
Highway system | ||||
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|
U.S. Route 30 (US 30) is a major east–west U.S. Highway which spans 330 miles (530 km) across the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the longest primary highway in the state and is maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). The route in Iowa begins at the Missouri River crossing at Blair, Nebraska, and ends at the Mississippi River crossing at Clinton. Along the way, it serves Denison and Carroll in western Iowa, Boone, Ames, and Marshalltown in central Iowa, and Tama, Cedar Rapids, and DeWitt in eastern Iowa. Cutting across the central portion of the state, US 30 runs within close proximity of the Union Pacific Railroad's Overland Route for its entire length.
U.S. Route 30 was originally conceived as a part of the Lincoln Highway, the first transcontinental highway in the United States. A route through Iowa was chosen because of the important link between Omaha, Nebraska, and Chicago, Illinois. As the U.S. Highway System came into being in the 1920s, and the Lincoln Highway became US 30, federal money started to pour in and Iowa's infamous dirt roads began to be paved. By 1931, it had been paved across the entire state.
The route the Lincoln Highway followed and U.S. Route 30 follows has changed to accommodate changing needs of the traveling public. Early Lincoln Highway travelers were directed into many small towns as the route traveled 358 miles (576 km) across the state. Towards the middle of the 20th century, the route was straightened, bypassing most downtown areas and several towns altogether. More recently, long sections of US 30 have been upgraded to a four-lane expressway to meet the needs of increasing traffic. Since 2006, the highway has been designated the Iowa Heritage Byway by Iowa DOT.
Route description
U.S. Route 30 extends from west to east across the central portion of the state, with much of the highway traveling through rolling farmland. Small towns dot the entire route, which connects the larger cities and towns of Denison, Ames, Cedar Rapids, and Clinton. Between Ogden and Mount Vernon, significant portions of the highway have been upgraded to a four-lane freeway.[3]
Western Iowa
US 30 enters Iowa by crossing Blair Bridge over the Missouri River east of Blair, Nebraska. Adjacent to the highway bridge is the Union Pacific Railroad's river crossing for the Overland Route. The highway runs roughly parallel to the rail line for its entire run across Iowa.[4][5] For 9 miles (14 km), it passes through the flat Missouri River bottoms, passing DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge on the way to Missouri Valley.[6] At Missouri Valley, it intersects Interstate 29 (I-29) at a partial cloverleaf interchange. East of Missouri Valley, it enters the Boyer River valley through the Loess Hills, a region of wind-deposited silt extending from north of Sioux City to extreme northwestern Missouri.[7] The rolling Loess Hills rise 50–100 feet (15–30 m) above the roadway while the land in the valley stays relatively flat.[8] East of the Loess Hills, US 30 enters Logan and intersects the eastern end of Iowa Highway 127 (Iowa 127). East of Logan, the highway runs parallel to the Boyer River, as well as the Overland Route, in a general northeast direction.[3] Four miles (6.4 km) east of Logan is the western end of Iowa 44, which extends 105 miles (169 km) to Des Moines.[6]
The highway enters Crawford County north of Dunlap in Harrison County. For 17 miles (27 km), US 30 passes through farmland and the small communities of Dow City and Arion. At Denison, it overlaps U.S. Route 59 (US 59) and Iowa 141, which run concurrently through Denison, for a half-mile (0.80 km).[6] East of Denison, it follows the East Boyer River as the Boyer River forks west of the northern intersection with US 59 / Iowa 141. US 30 travels north-northeasterly towards Vail. Between Vail and Westside, the highway ceases following the East Boyer River and heads due east towards Arcadia and Carroll in Carroll County.[3]
At Carroll, it intersects U.S. Route 71 at a signal-controlled intersection. East of Carroll, it passes through the town of Glidden and passes to the north of Ralston, west of the Greene County line. North of Scranton, it meets the northern end of Iowa Highway 25. Between Scranton and Jefferson, US 30 crosses the Raccoon River.[3] At Jefferson and Grand Junction, the latter of the cities named for its location at the junction of the historic Chicago & Northwestern and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroads,[9] now both owned by Union Pacific, US 30 crosses Iowa Highway 4 and Iowa Highway 144 on the northern edge of each town, respectively. East of Grand Junction, the highway passes over the Overland Route where it stays south of the railroad until Le Grand.[5]
Central Iowa
Four miles (6.4 km) west of Ogden, US 30 is joined by U.S. Route 169 from the north. The two highways run concurrently until reaching Ogden, where the road becomes a four-lane expressway. US 169 exits to the south at a partial cloverleaf interchange. It continues east through Boone County and descends into the Des Moines River valley.[3] Despite the 1-mile (1.6 km) wide valley, due to the river's meandering course, the historic Kate Shelley High Bridge, which is 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) north of US 30, is not visible from the route. It ascends from the valley and travels another 2 miles (3.2 km) to a four-way stop in Boone, which is the last stop along the route until US 63 in Toledo. Three miles (4.8 km) east of Boone, it meets Iowa Highway 17 at a diamond interchange. One mile (1.6 ) east of that interchange is a shortcut to northbound Iowa 17.[6]
Traffic is filtered into Ames and Iowa State University (ISU) from US 30 through five interchanges. On the outskirts of Ames are the Lincoln Way interchanges. Access to and from Lincoln Way is handled by two half interchanges 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) apart. From the interchanges to the Story County line 1+3⁄4 miles (2.8 km) away, Lincoln Way is designated as Iowa Highway 930, but is never signed as such.[6] The South Dakota Avenue interchange primarily serves the southwestern part of Ames. The University Boulevard (formerly Elwood Drive) exit provides access to the Iowa State University campus and Iowa State Center, ISU's cultural and athletics complex. The Duff Avenue interchange provides access to Ames's east side. U.S. Route 69 and Interstate 35 Business (I-35 Bus.) are designated along Duff Avenue. From Duff to Interstate 35, US 30 is overlapped by I-35 Bus. Between the Duff and Dayton Avenue interchanges, it crosses the South Skunk River.[3] The Dayton Avenue interchange serves hotels and restaurants and is a travel stop for I-35 travelers.
East of the Dayton Avenue interchange is Interstate 35, which connects US 30 to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the north, and Des Moines to the south. Continuing east, the expressway travels 6+1⁄2 miles (10.5 km) to Nevada and then 6 miles (9.7 km) more to Colo, where the four-lane expressway ends at the U.S. Route 65 interchange. Fifteen miles (24 km) separates the US 65 and Iowa Highway 330 interchanges. Just before the Iowa 330 interchange, the road becomes a four-lane expressway again. One mile (1.6 km) to the east are two half-interchanges with U.S. Route 30 Business, the only business route of US 30 in Iowa.[6]
US 30 bypasses Marshalltown approximately 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) south of its business loop. Near Marshalltown Community College, it intersects Iowa Highway 14 at a diamond interchange. The 18th Street interchange on the southeastern side of Marhsalltown is the eastern end of the business loop. From Marshalltown, it travels 5 miles (8.0 km) to Le Grand, crossing over the Overland Route rail corridor on the west side.[5] It bypasses Le Grand to the north, where it intersects the northern end of Iowa Highway 146 at a diamond interchange. Continuing east, the highway enters Tama County. It rises over a large hill north of Montour and then descends into the Iowa River valley.[3] East of the Iowa River is the Meskwaki Settlement, home to about 800 Meskwaki Indians and the Meskwaki Casino and Resort.[6]
One-half mile (0.8 km) east of the casino, US 30 becomes a two-lane road, a configuration which it keeps for the next 30 miles (48 km). It enters Toledo on its south where it intersects U.S. Route 63 at a signal-controlled intersection. From US 63, it turns to the southeast to skirt Tama east side. It turns east again by a roadside park, on the south side of which is Tama's Lincoln Highway bridge. From Tama, it heads due east, along section lines in Tama and Benton Counties, and does not enter another town for 40 miles (64 km).[6]
Eastern Iowa
US 30 enters Benton County 9 miles (14 km) north of Belle Plaine at an intersection with Iowa Highway 21. It continues east along a section line, passing the communities of Keystone, Van Horne, and Blairstown. Three-and-a-half miles (5.6 km) southwest of Newhall, or 4+1⁄4 miles (6.8 km) southeast of Van Horne, it meets U.S. Route 218 and becomes a four-lane road. US 30 and US 218 travel together due east towards Cedar Rapids, passing Norway and Atkins.[6]
On the west end of Cedar Rapids, US 30 / US 218 turn to the southeast at the 16th Avenue SW interchange. Two miles (3.2 km) to the southeast is the Williams Boulevard interchange, where U.S. Route 151 joins US 30 and US 218. For 4 miles (6.4 km), US 30 / US 151 / US 218 is a wrong-way concurrency; where US 30 runs east, US 151 runs north and US 218 runs south. At the Interstate 380 interchange, US 218 leaves US 30 / US 151 and joins the Avenue of the Saints highway. East of I-380, US 30 / US 151 serves as a divider between the Lincolnway Village neighborhood to the south and a light industrial district to the north.[6]
South of Bertram, the two routes cross the Cedar River before US 151 splits away from US 30 to the north at a trumpet interchange.[3] This interchange is the southern end of Iowa Highway 13. It continues east towards Mount Vernon, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of which, the four-lane highway becomes a two-lane road. In Mount Vernon, it intersects Iowa Highway 1 at a four-way intersection, the first stop since Tama. One mile (1.6 km) from Iowa 1, it enters Lisbon.[6]
Over the next 45 miles (72 km), US 30 passes through a small town every 4–7 miles (6.4–11.3 km). In Cedar County, it passes through Mechanicsville, Stanwood, Clarence and Lowden. In Stanwood, it is overlapped by Iowa Highway 38 for one mile (1.6 km). In Clinton County, it passes through Wheatland, Calamus, and Grand Mound before reaching a full cloverleaf interchange with U.S. Route 61 at DeWitt. US 30 overlaps US 61 for one mile (1.6 km), crossing the Union Pacific Overland Route in the process, and leaves via a trumpet interchange.[6]
US 30 continues east as an expressway, passing DeWitt to the south. Five miles (8.0 km) east of DeWitt, it crosses back over to the north side of the Overland Route.[6] West of the Clinton city limits is an interchange with Clinton County Road Z36 (CR Z36), which serves Low Moor and as a shortcut to southbound U.S. Route 67. East of CR Z36, it passes the Clinton Municipal Airport and a large chemical plant.[3] As it approaches Mill Creek Parkway, it descends over 100 feet (30 m) in elevation into the flat Mississippi River valley, where it meets U.S. Route 67.[10]
US 30 / US 67 head east along Lincoln Way and ascend 50 feet (15 m) onto a plateau, atop which reside stores and restaurants.[10] As they continue east, the two routes split into one-way streets, eastbound Liberty Avenue and westbound Camanche Avenue. The one-way street alignment ends at 11th Avenue South, but quickly begins again as US 30 / US 67 turn to the north onto northbound S. Third Street and southbound S. Fourth Street. At Eighth Avenue South, US 30 splits away from US 67 and onto the Gateway Bridge, crossing into Illinois.[11]
History
The path which U.S. Route 30 follows has changed since it was originally planned as the Lincoln Highway in the early 1910s. The first path connected as many downtown areas as possible, in order to create awareness about the Good Roads Movement and the Lincoln Highway.[12] As the primary highway system of Iowa matured, and the Lincoln Highway yielded to US 30, the highway was gradually straightened, leaving many towns off the route.[13] More recently, new construction has routed traffic away from the straighter roads and onto sections of freeway and expressway.[3]
Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway | |
---|---|
Location | Council Bluffs – Clinton |
Length | 358 mi[14] (576 km) |
Existed | 1913–1928 |
While US 30 was created in 1926, the route itself dates back to the 1913 when the Lincoln Highway was designated across the country. The brainchild of Carl Fisher, the Lincoln Highway was the first highway to cross the United States, connecting New York City to San Francisco. In Iowa, it was uncertain exactly where the Lincoln Highway would run. As of August 1913, no definite route had been planned; the only certainty was the route would pass through Iowa. Over $5 million ($154 million in 2024 dollars[15]) had been raised already for the construction of the road.[16] On September 14, 1913, the Lincoln Highway route was announced. The highway was designated across 358 miles (576 km) of dirt roads, connecting Clinton, DeWitt, Cedar Rapids, Tama, Marshalltown, Ames, Jefferson, Denison, Logan, and Council Bluffs.[14] The route was marked by a red, white, and blue tricolor emblazoned with an L. The route markers were painted upon telephone poles, bridges, and nearby buildings to show travelers the way.[17]
While not ideal for transcontinental travel, Iowa's dirt roads were very good roads; that is, when they were dry. Some people even compared them to the best roads in France. The same could not be said, however, when the roads were wet. The mud was so vicious and so viscous, that it was referred to as "gumbo".[12] To show travelers the obvious benefits of paved roads, the Lincoln Highway Association began the process of creating seedling miles of paved roads. The idea, according to Henry B. Joy, then-president of the Lincoln Highway Association, was to show travelers, for one mile (1.6 km), how fast and smooth their trip could be, only to bring them back to reality at the end of the mile. Seedling miles were placed at least 6 miles (9.7 km) from the nearest town and in areas where the terrain was rough. Between August 1918 and June 1919, Iowa's first seedling mile was built in Linn County, west of Mount Vernon. The ribbon of concrete, which was 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, 7+1⁄2 inches (19 cm) thick, and crowned for drainage 1+1⁄2 inches (3.8 cm), cost nearly $35,000 ($615,086 in 2024 dollars[15]) to build.[12]
Despite the success of the seedling miles across the country, Iowa lagged behind other states in improving its roads. Before 1924, Iowa's 99 counties, not the state highway commission, were responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's roads.[18] In the 1920s, road paving cost $30,000-per-mile ($19,000-per-kilometer), $924,848-per-mile ($575 thousand-per-kilometer) in 2024 dollars[15]; for counties, the cost of construction was a major deterrent.[14] When counties could afford to build roads, the Iowa State Highway Commission required extensive grading to be done before paving. By 1922, 334 miles (538 km), only five percent of roads were paved. By 1924, twenty percent of the Lincoln Highway in Iowa had been paved, and by 1931, it was paved continuously from New York City to Missouri Valley, Iowa[12]
1930s–1950s
When the Lincoln Highway became U.S. Route 30 in 1926, the route was 358 miles (576 km) long and passed through every town along the way.[14] Starting in the 1930s, the route's alignment began to be straightened. By the mid-1930s, it was routed west of Missouri Valley on old Iowa Highway 130. The US 30 alignment south of Missouri Valley became U.S. Route 30 Alternate.[19] By 1952, it had moved south of Marshalltown and was replaced by Iowa Highway 330 and a 17-mile (27 km) southern jaunt through Belle Plaine had been replaced by a straight road.[13] In 1955 a couple of routing changes occurred. In Cedar Rapids, it began its move to the south, avoiding the downtown area, and in Clinton, it was rerouted over the Gateway Bridge, allowing Iowa Highway 136 to cross the Lyons-Fulton Bridge.[20] However, by 1957, the old alignment through Clinton and across the Lyons-Fulton Bridge was numbered U.S. Route 30 Alternate.[21]
1960s–1980s
In the 1960–1970s, freeway segments along US 30 started to be built. In 1965, it was straightened and rerouted to the south of Ogden and Boone along an 11-mile (18 km), four-lane stretch of road.[22] By the end of the 1960s, both of the alternate routes had been turned over to local jurisdictions. The western route became Iowa Highway 183, and the eastern route reverted back to Iowa Highway 136. By 1973, that new stretch of road had been extended 14 miles (23 km) along a four-lane bypass around Ames. The old alignment became Iowa Highway 930.[23] In eastern Iowa, a new, 20-mile (32 km) long freeway connected DeWitt and Clinton by 1976.[24] By 1985, the bypass of Cedar Rapids had been completed from 16th Avenue SW to Iowa Highway 13 near Bertram. By 1989, the bypass was extended 5 miles (8.0 km) further west.[25] Between 1996 and 2000, an $8.2 million extension ($15.9 million in 2024 dollars[15]) was built to connect the bypass to the western intersection of U.S. Route 218.[26][27]
Since the Cedar Rapids bypass was completed in 1985, on occasion, traffic has had to be rerouted off of US 30. The bypass's proximity to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline resulted in an elevated roadway between Edgewood Road and Sixth Street SW. When strong winds come from the south, fog produced by an Archer Daniels Midland plant adjacent to the highway billows over the road making driving dangerous.[28] The Iowa DOT set up an emergency detour from Edgewood Road SW north to 16th Avenue SW east to 6th Street SW back to US 30. The frequency of fog-related detours has decreased in recent years due to improved technology and the plant's expansion and relocation of cooling towers away from the highway.[28]
1990s to the present
The 1990s saw more construction of four-lane roads along US 30. Stretches of four-lane roads that had already been constructed were extended towards other communities. In Story County, it was widened to four lanes from the Interstate 35 interchange to U.S. Route 65 at Colo. The original 1950s-era bypass of Marshalltown was itself bypassed in 1997 by a freeway 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) south of the original bypass.[6] That road, Iowa Avenue in Marshalltown, was designated as U.S. Route 30 Business, the first business route along US 30 in Iowa. The four-lane stretch southeast of Cedar Rapids was extended another 5 miles (8.0 km) to a point 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Mount Vernon, costing $5.6 million ($10.9 million in 2024 dollars[15]) to build.[26][29]
The 21st century has seen and will continue to see the widening of US 30. In 2004, an $18.6-million ($36.1 million in 2024 dollars[15]), four-lane section opened from east of Marshalltown to the Meskwaki Settlement west of Tama, bypassing Le Grand.[26] Two sections, a 15-mile (24 km) section between Colo and Marshalltown, and another 7+1⁄2-mile (12.1 km) section, which will bypass the Tama/Toledo area, are scheduled for construction in 2010 and to be completed in 2011.[30] Upon completion, it will be a four-lane expressway from Ogden to Tama, covering 75 miles (121 km).[6]
Legacy of the Lincoln Highway
While it has not been an official route for 98 years, the Lincoln Highway is still a source of pride in the communities and regions through which it passed. Nearly 85 percent of the original Lincoln Highway is still drivable, although much of it is a gravel road.[31] Most of what is drivable is either along US 30 or within one mile (1.6 km).[3] The Lincoln Highway bridge in Tama was built in 1915. It was restored in the 1980s after local officials feared losing it.[32] Preston's Service Station, a landmark of Belle Plaine, has become a Lincoln Highway museum.[33] Monuments were built along the route to honor not only Abraham Lincoln,[34] but to honor Iowans who were influential for planning its route.[35]
In 1992, the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) was reformed with a chapter in each state through which the highway passed. The new LHA is a historical preservation group that wants to preserve the remaining sections of the highway.[36] The Iowa chapter of the LHA has, since 2008, sponsored a tour of the Lincoln Highway. To keep the tour classic-car friendly, the tour does not travel upon the sections of the road which are gravel.[37] After years of lobbying by the LHA, the Iowa Department of Transportation, in 2006, designated the Lincoln Highway the Iowa Heritage Byway.[38] The 2010 Transportation Map of Iowa showed the path designated as the Iowa Heritage Byway for the first time.[3]
Major intersections
County | Location | Mile[1] | Exit[3] | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Missouri River | 0.000 | US 30 west |
Nebraska state line | ||
Harrison | Missouri Valley | 9.243 | I-29 | I-29 exit 75 | |
Logan | 19.279 | Iowa 127 west |
|||
23.166 | Iowa 44 east |
||||
Dunlap | 37.750 | Iowa 37 east |
West end of IA 37 overlap | ||
37.985 | Iowa 37 west |
East end of IA 37 overlap | |||
Crawford | Denison | 54.091 | US 59 south / Iowa 141 east |
West end of US 59/IA 141 overlap | |
54.623 | US 59 north / Iowa 141 west to Iowa 39 |
East end of US 59/IA 141 overlap | |||
Carroll | Carroll | 81.379 | US 71 | ||
Greene | Scranton | 99.260 | Iowa 25 south |
||
Jefferson | 108.203 | Iowa 4 | |||
Grand Junction | 115.266 | Iowa 144 | |||
Boone | Ogden | 122.275 | US 169 north |
West end of US 169 overlap | |
126.373 | 126 | US 169 south |
East end of US 169 overlap | ||
Boone | 137.332 | 137 | Iowa 17 | ||
Ames | 142.263 | 142 | Lincoln Way (IA 930) – Napier | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only | |
142.964 | Napier | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only | |||
Story | 144.900 | 144 | South Dakota Avenue – Kelley | ||
147.019 | 146 | University Boulevard – Iowa State University | |||
148.537 | 148 | I-35 Business Loop north / US 69 (Duff Avenue) – Huxley |
West end of I-35 Business Loop overlap | ||
149.760 | 150 | Dayton Avenue | |||
150.490 | 151A | I-35 south – Des Moines |
I-35 exit 111 | ||
151B | I-35 north / I-35 Business Loop – Minneapolis |
I-35 exit 111, south end of I-35 Bus. | |||
Nevada | 157.610 | 157 | 19th Street – Nevada | ||
Colo | 164.070 | 164 | US 65 – Des Moines, Iowa Falls | ||
Marshall | Marshalltown | 178.949 | 179 | Iowa 330 – Albion, Melbourne, Des Moines | |
181.131 | 181 | US 30 Bus. east (Iowa Avenue) |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only. US 30 Bus. signed eastbound only. | ||
182.041 | 182 | Oaks Avenue, Highland Acres Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only. | ||
184.550 | 185 | Iowa 14 – Newton, Marshalltown Business District | |||
186.032 | 186 | US 30 Bus. west (18th Street) |
US 30 Bus. signed westbound only. | ||
Le Grand | 191.201 | 192 | Iowa 146 south / CR T37 north – Le Grand, Grinnell |
||
Tama | Toledo | 201.971 | US 63 (County Road) | ||
Benton | Kane Township | 217.477 | Iowa 21 | ||
Fremont Township | 231.381 | US 218 north |
West end of US 218 overlap | ||
Linn | Cedar Rapids | 244.003 | 246 | 16th Avenue SW – Fairfax | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance only. |
244.524 | 80th Street – Fairfax | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only. | |||
246.503 | 248 | US 151 south / US 151 Bus. north (Williams Boulevard SW) – Amana Colonies |
West end of US 151 overlap | ||
247.874 | 250 | Edgewood Road SW | |||
250.058 | 252A | 6th Street SW – Hawkeye Downs | |||
250.391 | 252B | I-380 south / US 218 south / Iowa 27 south – Iowa City, Airport |
I-380 exit 16, east end of US 218 overlap | ||
252C | I-380 north / Iowa 27 north – Cedar Rapids |
I-380 exit 16 | |||
251.068 | 253 | Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Bowling Street SW | |||
252.065 | 254 | CR W6E (C Street SW) – Ely | |||
Bertram | 256.986 | 259 | US 151 north / Iowa 13 north – Marion |
East end of US 151 overlap | |
Mount Vernon | 263.238 | Iowa 1 | |||
Cedar | Stanwood | 277.621 | Iowa 38 north (Ash Street) |
West end of IA 38 overlap | |
278.637 | Iowa 38 south |
East end of IA 38 overlap | |||
Clinton | DeWitt | 308.805 | 311 | US 61 north – Maquoketa |
West end of US 61 overlap |
309.973 | 312 | US 61 south – Davenport |
East end of US 61 overlap | ||
311.415 | 313 | 6th Avenue – DeWitt | |||
Low Moor | 321.014 | 323 | CR Z36 – Low Moor, Elvira | ||
Clinton | 326.818 | US 67 south (Washington Boulevard) |
West end of US 67 overlap; US 67 is the Great River Road | ||
330.142 | US 67 north (South 3rd Street) |
East end of US 67 overlap | |||
Mississippi River | 330.914 | US 30 east |
Illinois state line | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
References
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
DOT_length
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Weingroff, Richard F. (March 30, 2009). "The Lincoln Highway". Highway History. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 2024. § A-N4. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
- ^ Union Pacific Railroad. "UPRR Common Line Names" (PDF). Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c Iowa Department of Transportation (July 1, 2008). "Iowa State Railroad Map" (PDF). Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 2018 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (PDF) (Report). Iowa Department of Transportation. July 31, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ "Geology of the Loess Hills, Iowa". United States Geological Survey. July 1999. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State University (2005). "Iowa Geographic Map Server". Harrison County. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ General Atlas of the World (Map). Rand, McNally & Co. 1898. p. 47. § F4.
- ^ a b Iowa State University. "Iowa Geographic Map Server". Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ Clinton inset (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Rogers, Leah D.; Kernek, Clare L. (2004). Lincoln Higwhay Associations "Object Lesson": The Seedling Mile in Linn County, Iowa. pp. 2–3, 9.
- ^ a b Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa State Highway Commission. 1952. § I18-J19. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Thompson, William H. (1989). Transportation in Iowa: A Historical Summary. Iowa Department of Transportation. pp. 100–101. ISBN 0962316709.
- ^ a b c d e f 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Says Iowa Will Get Lincoln Highway". Des Moines Tribune. September 3, 1913. p. 3.
- ^ Gladding, Effie Price (1915). "Chapter VII". Across the Continent by the Lincoln Highway. New York: Brentano's. p. 111. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
- ^ "Rules of the Road:Highway Safety". Iowa Pathways. Iowa Public Television. 2005–2009. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Iowa State University (2005). "Iowa Geographic Map Server". Pottawattamie County. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa State Highway Commission. 1956. Clinton inset. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa State Highway Commission. 1957. Clinton inset. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa State Highway Commission. 1965. § I11-12. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa State Highway Commission. 1973. § I12-13. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 1976. § K4. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 1989. § I4.
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(help) - ^ a b c "Completing 6 Highway Corridors a Priority for State". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids – Iowa City. November 24, 1996. p. B4.
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(help) - ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 2000. § H4. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ a b Hogan, Dick (December 31, 2001). "Highway 30 Sign Still Not Repaired". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids – Iowa City. p. 5.
{{cite news}}
:|access-date=
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(help) - ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 1997. § I4. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ Iowa Department of Transportation (June 2009). "2010 – 2014 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program" (PDF). Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ Iowa Department of Transportation. "Historic Auto Trails: Lincoln Highway". Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
LHA Tama
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Iowa Lincoln Highway Association. "Benton County". Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
LHA Scranton
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
LHA Clinton
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lincoln Highway Association. "Contact Us". Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ Iowa Lincoln Highway Association (March 17, 2010). "ILHA Motor Tour". Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ Iowa Lincoln Highway Association (Spring 2009). "Along the Lincoln Highway" (PDF). Retrieved April 28, 2010.
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