Iowa Highway 137 is a north–south highway in southern 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...

. It has a length of 14 miles (22.5 km). The route begins at Iowa Highway 5 in Albia

Albia, Iowa

Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....

 and ends at U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...

 in Eddyville

Eddyville, Iowa

Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...

.

Route description

Iowa 137 begins at a Y intersection with Iowa 5 in Albia

Albia, Iowa

Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....

. From Albia, it travels north through rolling farmland for 4 miles (6.4 km) before turning northeast towards Eddyville

Eddyville, Iowa

Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...

. Iowa 137 crosses the Des Moines River

Des Moines River

The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...

 just 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) from its end at U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...

 in Eddyville

Eddyville, Iowa

Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...

.

History

Iowa 137 was designated on December 4, 1934, replacing a section of Iowa Highway 59. Originally, it began at U.S. Route 34

U.S. Route 34

U.S. Route 34 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 1,122 miles from north-central Colorado to the western suburbs of Chicago. Through Rocky Mountain National Park it is known as the Trail Ridge Road where it reaches 12,183 ft , making it the highest paved through highway in...

 (Benton Avenue) in downtown Albia

Albia, Iowa

Albia is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albia's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 41.026600, −92.805262....

. Later, the southern end was moved to its present location at Iowa Highway 5.

Before July 16, 1997, Iowa Highway 137 extended north from Eddyville

Eddyville, Iowa

Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...

 to Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...

. An expressway was being built which would connect 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 Burlington

Burlington, Iowa

Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...

. U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63

U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...

 was realigned onto this new expressway, replacing Iowa Highway 23

Iowa Highway 23

Iowa Highway 23 is a state highway that is signed from north to south, although it is generally a southeast to northwest alignment, in south central Iowa. It has a length of .-Route description:...

 from Ottumwa

Ottumwa, Iowa

Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,998 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, and the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River....

 to Eddyville

Eddyville, Iowa

Eddyville is a city in Mahaska, Monroe, and Wapello Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 1,024 at the 2010 census.-History:...

 and Iowa 137 from Eddyville to Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...

. Iowa 23 ended at Iowa 137 in approximately the same area where Iowa 137 ends at US 63.

Major intersections