Iowa Highway 330
Encyclopedia
A 33 miles state highway in central Iowa
, Iowa Highway 330 runs northeasterly from near Mingo
in Jasper County
past Albion
, to just north of Marshalltown
in Marshall County
. Originally the two-lane, unpaved Iowa Highway 88 in the 1930s, and later Iowa Highway 64 until 1969, Highway 330 is now a four-lane divided expressway along much of its length. In conjunction with US 65, Iowa Highway 14 and U.S. Route 20, Iowa 330 is commonly used as a connector between Des Moines
and the Waterloo
/Cedar Falls
area.
and Iowa Highway 117
north of Mingo
. At the intersection, northbound US 65 traffic, which is traveling northeast on an expressway, turns north onto a two-lane highway. The northern end of Iowa 117 is on the opposite side of US 65's two-lane road. Iowa 330 begins on the expressway and does not stop at the US 65 / Iowa 117 intersection.
The expressway portion of Iowa 330 extends for 20 miles (32.2 km), passing the communities of Rhodes
and Melbourne
. It intersects U.S. Route 30 at a diamond interchange
just west of Marshalltown
. 1+1/2 mi later, now on a two-lane road, Iowa 330 turns north of Albion
, bypassing Marshalltown to the west. On the way to Albion, Highway 330 crosses the Union Pacific Railroad
main line and the Iowa River
. North of Albion, Iowa 330 turns east and travels 4 miles (6.4 km) before ending at Iowa Highway 14.
project for the personal benefit of a Marshall County state legislator
who wanted a quicker route to the Iowa General Assembly
.
The highway was originally designated as Highway 330 and paved in the late 1940s. Before then, it was called Iowa 88 and was largely unpaved. In 1969 the route was extended southward to its current terminus. In 1989, it was re-routed to bypass Marshalltown. In 2002, the 20 miles (32.2 km) between US 65 and US 30 were upgraded to expressway
status.
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...
, Iowa Highway 330 runs northeasterly from near Mingo
Mingo, Iowa
Mingo is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The population was 269 at the 2000 census. It is named for the historic Iroquoian Mingo people.-Geography:Mingo is located at ....
in Jasper County
Jasper County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 36,842 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,181 housing units, of which 14,806 were occupied.-2000 census:...
past Albion
Albion, Iowa
Albion is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albion is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, to just north of Marshalltown
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
in Marshall County
Marshall County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,648 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,831 housing units, of which 15,538 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Originally the two-lane, unpaved Iowa Highway 88 in the 1930s, and later Iowa Highway 64 until 1969, Highway 330 is now a four-lane divided expressway along much of its length. In conjunction with US 65, Iowa Highway 14 and U.S. Route 20, Iowa 330 is commonly used as a connector between 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...
and the Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
/Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
area.
Route description
Iowa Highway 330 begins at the intersection of U.S. Route 65U.S. Route 65
U.S. Route 65 is a north–south United States highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 425 in Clayton, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at Interstate 35 just south of Interstate 90 in Albert Lea, Minnesota...
and Iowa Highway 117
Iowa Highway 117
Iowa Highway 117 is a north–south route in Jasper County. The length of the highway is . In addition to serving several communities directly, Highway 117 also provides a shortcut between U.S. Route 65 and Interstate 80 east of Des Moines....
north of Mingo
Mingo, Iowa
Mingo is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. The population was 269 at the 2000 census. It is named for the historic Iroquoian Mingo people.-Geography:Mingo is located at ....
. At the intersection, northbound US 65 traffic, which is traveling northeast on an expressway, turns north onto a two-lane highway. The northern end of Iowa 117 is on the opposite side of US 65's two-lane road. Iowa 330 begins on the expressway and does not stop at the US 65 / Iowa 117 intersection.
The expressway portion of Iowa 330 extends for 20 miles (32.2 km), passing the communities of Rhodes
Rhodes, Iowa
Rhodes is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 294 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rhodes is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and Melbourne
Melbourne, Iowa
Melbourne is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Melbourne was plotted February 23, 1882, by Milwaukee Land Company, in section 6 of Logan Township and was incorporated December 30, 1895. Melbourne was the only town in...
. It intersects U.S. Route 30 at a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
just west of Marshalltown
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
. 1+1/2 mi later, now on a two-lane road, Iowa 330 turns north of Albion
Albion, Iowa
Albion is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albion is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, bypassing Marshalltown to the west. On the way to Albion, Highway 330 crosses the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
main line and the Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
. North of Albion, Iowa 330 turns east and travels 4 miles (6.4 km) before ending at Iowa Highway 14.
History
As an unusual, and originally underutilized, diagonal highway in a strongly grid-based region, a persistent rumor claims that the highway was originally run through as a pork barrelPork barrel
Pork barrel is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district...
project for the personal benefit of a Marshall County state legislator
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
who wanted a quicker route to the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
.
The highway was originally designated as Highway 330 and paved in the late 1940s. Before then, it was called Iowa 88 and was largely unpaved. In 1969 the route was extended southward to its current terminus. In 1989, it was re-routed to bypass Marshalltown. In 2002, the 20 miles (32.2 km) between US 65 and US 30 were upgraded to expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
status.