Iowa State Highway 32
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 32, also known as the Northwest Arterial, is a state highway
that runs north–south across part of Dubuque County
, Iowa. Highway 32 is among the shortest state highways in Iowa, at approximately 5 miles (8 km) long. The northern terminus of Iowa 32 is in Sageville, Iowa
, where it meets U.S. Highway 52/Iowa Highway 3 (Central Avenue) at John Deere Road. The southern terminus of Iowa Highway 32 is in the west side of the City of Dubuque
, where it meets U.S. Highway 20 (Dodge Street). With the exception of a small stretch in the north, the entire highway is within the City of Dubuque
.
Iowa Highway 32 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 (US 20) in Dubuque
. From US 20, Iowa 32 heads north and immediately drops 100 feet (30.5 m) in elevation into the valley of the middle fork of Catfish Creek
. It heads back uphill and intersects Pennsylvania Avenue. A mile (1.6 km) north of this intersection is another intersection with Asbury Road, named for the small town
3/4 mi west of the intersection.
North of Asbury Road, the Northwest Arterial is flanked on both sides of the road by retail establishments, most of which popped up in the early-2000s. The highway makes a 45° turn to the northeast, heading towards Sageville
. Just to the northeast is an intersection with John F. Kennedy Road (JFK), which for the first six years of Iowa 32's existence, was the northern end of the route. Northeast of JFK, the highway passes the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
. Just to the northeast of the arboretum is the intersection with U.S. Route 52 / Iowa Highway 3 in Sageville.
and alternate route to U.S. 52, which runs as a city street through Downtown Dubuque. Construction began in the early 1980s on a two-lane section, which stretched from U.S. 20 (Dodge Street) to John F. Kennedy Road.
The city turned the highway over to state control in 1995, where it was marked as Iowa Highway 32. By 1997, work was finished on the additional two lanes, and the road was a four-lane divided highway
. In 2002, the state completed a four-lane extension of the highway north to , creating a bypass from US 20 to US 52 / IA 3.
Since the completion of the highway, there has been significant growth along the Northwest Arterial corridor. The largest developments include Asbury Plaza
, Iowa's 8th-largest shopping center, and Medical Associates Clinic
's West Campus. In addition to these, several business parks and residential subdivisions have been built in the corridor. This growth, and its subsequent increase in traffic, has placed strains on the road, and has led to the installation of numerous stoplights. The growth has also led to more traffic accidents, particularly at the Asbury Road and U.S. 20 (Dodge Street) intersections.
The Northwest Arterial is the third highway to be designated as Iowa Highway 32. The first Highway 32 was in Cherokee County, Iowa
, extending from Iowa Highway 5 to Cleghorn, Iowa
, and was in existence from 1920 to 1926. A route from Iowa Highway 9 near Spirit Lake, Iowa
to U.S. Highway 71 in Milford, Iowa
served as the second Iowa Highway 32 from 1934 to 1980.
in the south. The project's main purpose is to relieve traffic congestion
on local surface streets and remove thru traffic from city neighborhoods. The completion of the highway is part of the city's long-range transportation improvement plan.
However, construction of the highway has not yet started, and its progression has been plagued with numerous delays. It has been slowed by environmental impact studies
, roadway alignment studies, and above all, its massive cost. The extension, originally projected in the range of $50–70 million, has now climbed above $100 million. In 2005, then-Iowa congressman Jim Nussle
secured $20 million in federal financing for the project. Preliminary design was completed in March 2008, with final design and property acquisition to commence at that time. Plans call for two lanes with partial interchanges to be built starting in 2010.
Also, there is some controversy over the alignment of the Southwest Arterial. The city has proposed the northern end of the highway meet U.S. 20 at Seippel Road, near the Dubuque Industrial Center West. This is most likely due to the cheaper cost of building the road over flatter, less-developed land, enabling construction to begin sooner. However, this option would not link the highway directly with the northern section of Iowa 32 (Northwest Arterial), thus not providing the "direct" beltline, which was the project's original goal.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
that runs north–south across part of Dubuque County
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,653 in the 2010 census, an increase from 89,143 in the 2000 census. The county seat is the city of Dubuque. Dubuque County is coterminous with the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seventh...
, Iowa. Highway 32 is among the shortest state highways in Iowa, at approximately 5 miles (8 km) long. The northern terminus of Iowa 32 is in Sageville, Iowa
Sageville, Iowa
Sageville is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. The population was 203 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sageville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, where it meets U.S. Highway 52/Iowa Highway 3 (Central Avenue) at John Deere Road. The southern terminus of Iowa Highway 32 is in the west side of the City of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, where it meets U.S. Highway 20 (Dodge Street). With the exception of a small stretch in the north, the entire highway is within the City of Dubuque
Dubuque
-Places:United States* Dubuque, Iowa* Dubuque County, Iowa* Dubuque, Kansas* East Dubuque, Illinois* University of Dubuque* USS Dubuque-Surnames:* Julien Dubuque, a French Canadian who arrived near what now is known as Dubuque, Iowa...
.
Route description
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. From US 20, Iowa 32 heads north and immediately drops 100 feet (30.5 m) in elevation into the valley of the middle fork of Catfish Creek
Catfish Creek (Iowa)
Catfish Creek is a tributary of the upper Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa. It rises southwest of Dubuque, just southeast of Peosta. The Middle Fork rises west of Dubuque and flows under and then parallel to U.S. Route 20; the former Illinois Central Railroad, now the Chicago Central and...
. It heads back uphill and intersects Pennsylvania Avenue. A mile (1.6 km) north of this intersection is another intersection with Asbury Road, named for the small town
Asbury, Iowa
Asbury is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, and a suburb of the city of Dubuque. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,450 at the 2000 census, but is now 4,170. Asbury is the second-largest city in Dubuque County, surpassing Dyersville,...
3/4 mi west of the intersection.
North of Asbury Road, the Northwest Arterial is flanked on both sides of the road by retail establishments, most of which popped up in the early-2000s. The highway makes a 45° turn to the northeast, heading towards Sageville
Sageville, Iowa
Sageville is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. The population was 203 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sageville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Just to the northeast is an intersection with John F. Kennedy Road (JFK), which for the first six years of Iowa 32's existence, was the northern end of the route. Northeast of JFK, the highway passes the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
The Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are an arboretum and botanical gardens established in 1980 and located at 3800 Arboretum Drive, Dubuque, Iowa. It is open without charge seven days a week from May 1 to October 31, and weekdays the remainder of the year...
. Just to the northeast of the arboretum is the intersection with U.S. Route 52 / Iowa Highway 3 in Sageville.
History
Iowa 32 was originally envisioned in the 1970s as part of Dubuque's long-range transportation improvement plan. The road was planned as a four-lane highway bypassBypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
and alternate route to U.S. 52, which runs as a city street through Downtown Dubuque. Construction began in the early 1980s on a two-lane section, which stretched from U.S. 20 (Dodge Street) to John F. Kennedy Road.
The city turned the highway over to state control in 1995, where it was marked as Iowa Highway 32. By 1997, work was finished on the additional two lanes, and the road was a four-lane divided highway
Divided Highway
Divided Highway is a compilation album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 2003. . All tracks are taken from the albums Cycles and Brotherhood .-Track listing:...
. In 2002, the state completed a four-lane extension of the highway north to , creating a bypass from US 20 to US 52 / IA 3.
Since the completion of the highway, there has been significant growth along the Northwest Arterial corridor. The largest developments include Asbury Plaza
Asbury Plaza
Asbury Plaza is a major shopping "power center" in Dubuque, Iowa. The complex is relatively new, having opened most of its 40 stores and restaurants only within the last 2–5 years. It is located at 4800 Asbury Road, near one of the busiest intersections in Dubuque, the corner of Asbury Road and the...
, Iowa's 8th-largest shopping center, and Medical Associates Clinic
Medical Associates
Medical Associates is a medical clinic based in Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of the oldest multi-speciality group medical practices in the state of Iowa. The clinic offers primary care services, specialized care, and acute care services. Currently there are over 95 physicians and nearly 800 other...
's West Campus. In addition to these, several business parks and residential subdivisions have been built in the corridor. This growth, and its subsequent increase in traffic, has placed strains on the road, and has led to the installation of numerous stoplights. The growth has also led to more traffic accidents, particularly at the Asbury Road and U.S. 20 (Dodge Street) intersections.
The Northwest Arterial is the third highway to be designated as Iowa Highway 32. The first Highway 32 was in Cherokee County, Iowa
Cherokee County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,072 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,777 housing units, of which 5,207 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, extending from Iowa Highway 5 to Cleghorn, Iowa
Cleghorn, Iowa
Cleghorn is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 250 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cleghorn is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and was in existence from 1920 to 1926. A route from Iowa Highway 9 near Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Spirit Lake is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,261 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickinson County.The town is located along the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region....
to U.S. Highway 71 in Milford, Iowa
Milford, Iowa
Milford is a city in Dickinson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,474 at the 2000 census. The town includes many businesses related to its location in the Iowa Great Lakes region.-Old Town:...
served as the second Iowa Highway 32 from 1934 to 1980.
Future
For many years, leaders in the Dubuque government and business community have been lobbying state and federal lawmakers to finance an extension of Iowa 32. The extension, to be called the Southwest Arterial, will run 6.1 miles (9.8 km) from U.S. Highway 20 (Dodge Street) in the north to U.S. Route 61 and U.S. Route 151U.S. Route 151
U.S. Route 151 is a U.S. Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for U.S. 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern terminus is at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The route, from south to north follows a northeasterly path through...
in the south. The project's main purpose is to relieve traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
on local surface streets and remove thru traffic from city neighborhoods. The completion of the highway is part of the city's long-range transportation improvement plan.
However, construction of the highway has not yet started, and its progression has been plagued with numerous delays. It has been slowed by environmental impact studies
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
, roadway alignment studies, and above all, its massive cost. The extension, originally projected in the range of $50–70 million, has now climbed above $100 million. In 2005, then-Iowa congressman Jim Nussle
Jim Nussle
James Allen "Jim" Nussle is an American politician and was the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Nussle was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007...
secured $20 million in federal financing for the project. Preliminary design was completed in March 2008, with final design and property acquisition to commence at that time. Plans call for two lanes with partial interchanges to be built starting in 2010.
Also, there is some controversy over the alignment of the Southwest Arterial. The city has proposed the northern end of the highway meet U.S. 20 at Seippel Road, near the Dubuque Industrial Center West. This is most likely due to the cheaper cost of building the road over flatter, less-developed land, enabling construction to begin sooner. However, this option would not link the highway directly with the northern section of Iowa 32 (Northwest Arterial), thus not providing the "direct" beltline, which was the project's original goal.