Interstate 80 in Iowa
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Iowa
, Interstate 80
(I-80) runs east–west between the Omaha-Council Bluffs
area and the Quad Cities
area, serving Des Moines and Iowa City
. It was built along the U.S. Highway 6 corridor and as a result, three sections of Interstate 80 overlap US 6 in Iowa. There are also significant overlaps with Interstate 29
in Council Bluffs
and with Interstate 35
in the Des Moines area.
from Omaha, Nebraska
. Immediately after descending the bridge and entering Council Bluffs
, it meets I-29
at a Y interchange
. The two Interstate Highways overlap each other for 3 miles (4.8 km). Through the southern part of Council Bluffs, there are two interchanges along I-29 / I-80 – South 24th Street and the South Expressway, the latter of which carries Iowa 192 into Council Bluffs. They diverge at another Y interchange and I-80 heads to the northeast.
I-80 then goes northeast past Council Bluffs and follows an alignment which parallels the former alignment of Iowa Highway 191
. Near Neola
, I-80 meets Interstate 680. Interstate 80 then immediately turns east, parallelling a former alignment of Iowa Highway 83
west of Avoca
and the current one east of Avoca. At Avoca, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 59. Near Atlantic
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 71 and U.S. Highway 6 and the first overlap with U.S. 6 begins. The overlap ends when I-80 meets U.S. Highway 169 at De Soto
. Shortly afterwards, I-80 meets Interstate 35
and Interstate 235
at the West Mixmaster interchange in West Des Moines
and turns north.
Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 go north through the western Des Moines suburbs until the interchange with Iowa Highway 141
and they turn east. They go east together and meet U.S. Highway 69 and then separate at the East Mixmaster interchange, which is also an interchange with Interstate 235
. Shortly afterwards, in Altoona
I-80 meets U.S. Highway 65 and they overlap for a mile. When I-80 and U.S. 65 separate, U.S. 6 joins I-80 and their second overlap begins. The overlap continues through Newton
. At Malcom
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 63. Near Williamsburg
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 151. I-80 continues east and meets Interstate 380
, U.S. Highway 218 and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints
, near Coralville
.
After passing through the Iowa City
area, Interstate 80 continues east and near Wilton
, meets U.S. 6, and the third overlap begins. The overlap ends in northwestern Davenport
when I-80 meets Interstate 280. I-80 continues east through the northern part of Davenport and meets U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 74
. I-80 passes through Bettendorf
and LeClaire, meeting U.S. Highway 67 at LeClaire. I-80 then leaves Iowa to enter Illinois
via the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge
over the Mississippi River
.
opened on September 21, 1958. By 1960, I-80 stretched around the north side of Des Moines
to the east mixmaster where I-35 splits away to the north.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
(I-80) runs east–west between the Omaha-Council Bluffs
Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area
The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area is a metropolitan area comprising the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and surrounding areas. The Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area has a population of 865,350 . The metropolitan area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget,...
area and the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
area, serving Des Moines and Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
. It was built along the U.S. Highway 6 corridor and as a result, three sections of Interstate 80 overlap US 6 in Iowa. There are also significant overlaps with Interstate 29
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
in Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
and with Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
in the Des Moines area.
Route description
I-80 enters Iowa by crossing the Missouri RiverMissouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
from Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Immediately after descending the bridge and entering Council Bluffs
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, it meets I-29
Interstate 29 in Iowa
In the U.S. state of Iowa, Interstate 29 is a north–south Interstate Highway which closely parallels the Missouri River. I-29 enters Iowa from Missouri near Hamburg and heads to the north-northwest through the Omaha-Council Bluffs and the Sioux City areas. It exits the state by crossing...
at a Y interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
. The two Interstate Highways overlap each other for 3 miles (4.8 km). Through the southern part of Council Bluffs, there are two interchanges along I-29 / I-80 – South 24th Street and the South Expressway, the latter of which carries Iowa 192 into Council Bluffs. They diverge at another Y interchange and I-80 heads to the northeast.
I-80 then goes northeast past Council Bluffs and follows an alignment which parallels the former alignment of Iowa Highway 191
Iowa Highway 191
Iowa Highway 191 is a highway in western Iowa. It runs for in a north–south direction. For its entire length, Iowa 191 closely parallels Mosquito Creek and a line of the BNSF Railway. Iowa 191 begins at Interstate 680 north of Neola and ends at Iowa Highway 37 in Earling. Previously, it...
. Near Neola
Neola, Iowa
Neola is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Neola is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, I-80 meets Interstate 680. Interstate 80 then immediately turns east, parallelling a former alignment of Iowa Highway 83
Iowa Highway 83
Iowa Highway 83 is a state highway that runs from east to west in western Iowa. The highway parallels Interstate 80 its entire length. Its western terminus is at U.S. Highway 59 in Avoca. The eastern terminus is in Anita at an intersection with Iowa Highway 148.-Route description:Iowa Highway 83...
west of Avoca
Avoca, Iowa
Avoca is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,610 at the 2000 census.-History:Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area. It quickly developed as a regional service center for...
and the current one east of Avoca. At Avoca, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 59. Near Atlantic
Atlantic, Iowa
Atlantic is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Iowa, United States, located along the East Nishnabotna River. The population was 7,112 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 7,257 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 71 and U.S. Highway 6 and the first overlap with U.S. 6 begins. The overlap ends when I-80 meets U.S. Highway 169 at De Soto
De Soto, Iowa
De Soto is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,009 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:De Soto is located at ....
. Shortly afterwards, I-80 meets Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
and Interstate 235
Interstate 235
Interstate 235 is the designation for several Interstate Highways in the United States, all of which are related to Interstate 35:*Interstate 235 , a long north-south route from downtown to north-central Oklahoma City....
at the West Mixmaster interchange in West Des Moines
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
and turns north.
Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 go north through the western Des Moines suburbs until the interchange with Iowa Highway 141
Iowa Highway 141
Iowa Highway 141 is a major east–west highway in the western and central portions of the state. It is the most direct link between Sioux City and Des Moines. It also serves as a freeway link between Des Moines and the outlying communities of Perry, Granger, and Grimes. Iowa 141's western...
and they turn east. They go east together and meet U.S. Highway 69 and then separate at the East Mixmaster interchange, which is also an interchange with Interstate 235
Interstate 235
Interstate 235 is the designation for several Interstate Highways in the United States, all of which are related to Interstate 35:*Interstate 235 , a long north-south route from downtown to north-central Oklahoma City....
. Shortly afterwards, in Altoona
Altoona, Iowa
Altoona is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and is a part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,583 at the 2010 census; a special census taken in August 2005 counted 13,301 residents....
I-80 meets U.S. Highway 65 and they overlap for a mile. When I-80 and U.S. 65 separate, U.S. 6 joins I-80 and their second overlap begins. The overlap continues through Newton
Newton, Iowa
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,254. It is the home of Maytag Dairy Farms and was formerly home to the Maytag Corporation's corporate headquarters until the Whirlpool Corporation acquired it in 2006...
. At Malcom
Malcom, Iowa
Malcom is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Malcom is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 63. Near Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Iowa
Williamsburg is a city in Iowa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,622 at the 2000 census. Williamsburg is known for Holden's Foundation Seeds...
, I-80 meets U.S. Highway 151. I-80 continues east and meets Interstate 380
Interstate 380 (Iowa)
Interstate 380 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway located in eastern Iowa. The route extends from Interstate 80 near Coralville to Waterloo. I-380 connects the cities of Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, the second- and fifth-largest cities in the state, respectively, to the Interstate Highway System. ...
, U.S. Highway 218 and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints
Avenue of the Saints
The Avenue of the Saints is a highway in the Midwestern United States that connects St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Louis, Missouri.-Missouri:Within Missouri, the Avenue of the Saints is Interstate 64, U.S...
, near Coralville
Coralville, Iowa
Coralville is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is a suburb of Iowa City and part of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
area, Interstate 80 continues east and near Wilton
Wilton, Iowa
Wilton is a city in Cedar and Muscatine Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 2,839 at the 2010 census. The Muscatine County portion of Wilton is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, meets U.S. 6, and the third overlap begins. The overlap ends in northwestern Davenport
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
when I-80 meets Interstate 280. I-80 continues east through the northern part of Davenport and meets U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 74
Interstate 74
Interstate 74 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an intersection with Interstate 80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an intersection with Interstate 75 in Cincinnati, Ohio...
. I-80 passes through Bettendorf
Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Bettendorf is the fifteenth largest city in the U.S. state of Iowa and the fourth largest city in the "Quad Cities". As of the 2010 United States Census the population grew to 33,217. Bettendorf is one of the Quad Cities, along with...
and LeClaire, meeting U.S. Highway 67 at LeClaire. I-80 then leaves Iowa to enter Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
via the Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge
Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge
The Fred Schwengel Memorial Bridge is a 4-lane steel girder bridge that carries Interstate 80 across the Mississippi River between LeClaire, Iowa and Rapids City, Illinois. The bridge is named for Fred Schwengel, a former U.S. Representative from Davenport, Iowa and one of the driving forces behind...
over the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
History
The first section of I-80 to open for traffic, 2+1/2 mi from the I-35 / I-235 west mixmaster to the Douglas Avenue interchange in UrbandaleUrbandale, Iowa
Urbandale is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 29,072; a special census taken by the city in 2005 counted 35,904 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 38,369 residents lived there in 2008...
opened on September 21, 1958. By 1960, I-80 stretched around the north side of Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
to the east mixmaster where I-35 splits away to the north.