Interstate 35 in Iowa
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state
of Iowa
, Interstate 35
runs north–south through the Des Moines area, parallel to US 65 and US 69. Segments of the Interstate Highway overlap with Interstate 80
and Iowa Highway 27, Iowa's designation for the Avenue of the Saints
.
south of Lamoni
at an interchange for U.S. Route 69
(US 69). US 69 is immediately west of the interchange but does not pass beneath I-35. The interstate travels to the north-northeast for 4 miles (6.4 km) where it again meets US 69 east of Lamoni. Near Decatur City
, it intersects Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2) at a diamond interchange
. It continues north for 21 miles (33.8 km) towards Osceola
, passing the small community of Van Wert
.
At Osceola, I-35 intersects U.S. Route 34 on the western side of town. From US 34, it heads north, passing Terrible's Lakeside Casino. Northwest of Osceola is the western end of Iowa 152
, which connects I-35 and US 69 at a narrow point between the two routes. From here, it travels 20 miles (32.2 km) through rural Clarke County
and Warren County to an interchange with Iowa 92 1/3 mi east of Bevington
.
It continues north, enters the Des Moines metropolitan area and meets the Iowa Highway 5 freeway at West Des Moines
. Further on in West Des Moines, at the West Mixmaster Interchange, I-35 meets Interstate 80
and Interstate 235
. I-235 serves downtown Des Moines, while I-35 and I-80 overlap and serve the western and northern Des Moines suburbs. On the Clive
/Urbandale
border, I-35 and I-80 meet U.S. Highway 6. Further north in Urbandale, they meet Iowa Highway 141
and turn eastward. They also meet U.S. Highway 69 north of Des Moines. Between Des Moines and Ankeny
, at the East Mixmaster interchange, I-35 and I-80 separate at an interchange where they also meet I-235.
Interstate 35 then turns north to go through Ankeny. It continues north and at Ames
meets U.S. Highway 30. Ames is also served by Business Loop 35. I-35 continues north and meets Iowa Highway 175
near Ellsworth and meets the U.S. Highway 20
freeway near Williams
. It continues north until the Wright County
border, where it turns northeast. On this northeasterly alignment, I-35 meets Iowa Highway 3.
Shortly after meeting Iowa Highway 3, Interstate 35 turns north again and meets U.S. Highway 18 and Iowa Highway 27 near Clear Lake
. I-35 overlaps U.S. 18 and Iowa Highway 27 through the Clear Lake area, which is also served with Business Loop 35. U.S. 18 separates in Clear Lake and I-35 and Iowa 27, which serves as the designation in Iowa for the Avenue of the Saints
, overlap for the rest of the way to the Minnesota
border, meeting Iowa Highway 9 near Hanlontown
.
to Urbandale
opened around September 21, 1958. Within five years, the interstate had grown to 55 miles (88.5 km), extending from U.S. Route 34 (US 34) Osceola
to the eastern interchange with I-80 and I-235
. The next two sections of I-35, 25 miles (40.2 km) from Ankeny
to US 30 near Ames
and 30 miles (48.3 km) from Ames to US 20 near Williams
.
By 1972, I-35 was completed at the Missouri
and Minnesota
state lines. In southern Iowa, the last section, from Iowa 2 near Decatur City
to the state line, was completed on December 2, 1970. In northern Iowa, the section from Iowa 9 near Hanlontown
to the state line opened on December 12, 1972. The last section of I-35 to open, from US 20 to Mason City, opened on November 14, 1975.
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 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...
runs north–south through the Des Moines area, parallel to US 65 and US 69. Segments of the Interstate Highway overlap with 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...
and Iowa Highway 27, Iowa's designation for 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...
.
Route description
Interstate 35 enters from MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
south of Lamoni
Lamoni, Iowa
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 818 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 761.1 people per square mile . There were 904 housing units at an average density of 281.5 per square mile...
at an interchange for U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69
U.S. Route 69 is a north–south United States highway. When it was first created, it was only long, but it has since been expanded into a Minnesota to Texas cross-country route. The highway's southern terminus is in Port Arthur, Texas at an intersection with State Highway 87...
(US 69). US 69 is immediately west of the interchange but does not pass beneath I-35. The interstate travels to the north-northeast for 4 miles (6.4 km) where it again meets US 69 east of Lamoni. Near Decatur City
Decatur City, Iowa
Decatur City is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 199 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Decatur City is located at ....
, it intersects Iowa Highway 2 (Iowa 2) 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...
. It continues north for 21 miles (33.8 km) towards Osceola
Osceola, Iowa
Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
, passing the small community of Van Wert
Van Wert, Iowa
Van Wert is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 231 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Wert is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
.
At Osceola, I-35 intersects U.S. Route 34 on the western side of town. From US 34, it heads north, passing Terrible's Lakeside Casino. Northwest of Osceola is the western end of Iowa 152
Iowa Highway 152
Iowa Highway 152 is a very short route which connects Interstate 35 and U.S. Route 69 near Osceola, Iowa. I-35 and US 69 are mostly parallel routes in Iowa and IA 152 connects the two routes at the narrowest location between them....
, which connects I-35 and US 69 at a narrow point between the two routes. From here, it travels 20 miles (32.2 km) through rural Clarke County
Clarke County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,286 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,086 housing units, of which 3,701 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Warren County to an interchange with Iowa 92 1/3 mi east of Bevington
Bevington, Iowa
Bevington is a city in Madison and Warren Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 58 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
It continues north, enters the Des Moines metropolitan area and meets the Iowa Highway 5 freeway at 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...
. Further on in West Des Moines, at the West Mixmaster Interchange, I-35 meets Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Iowa
In the U.S. state of Iowa, Interstate 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...
and Interstate 235
Interstate 235 (Iowa)
Interstate 235 in Iowa is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that runs just north of downtown Des Moines through the heart of the Des Moines metropolitan area. I-235 runs from the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 in West Des Moines to the separation of the same two interstates in Ankeny...
. I-235 serves downtown Des Moines, while I-35 and I-80 overlap and serve the western and northern Des Moines suburbs. On the Clive
Clive, Iowa
Clive is a city in Dallas and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census the population is at 15,447. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Clive is known for its outstanding Greenbelt Park and trail system running through the entire...
/Urbandale
Urbandale, 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...
border, I-35 and I-80 meet U.S. Highway 6. Further north in Urbandale, they meet 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 turn eastward. They also meet U.S. Highway 69 north of Des Moines. Between Des Moines and Ankeny
Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 45,562 in the 2010 census, an increase of 68% from the 27,117 population in the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, at the East Mixmaster interchange, I-35 and I-80 separate at an interchange where they also meet I-235.
Interstate 35 then turns north to go through Ankeny. It continues north and at Ames
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
meets U.S. Highway 30. Ames is also served by Business Loop 35. I-35 continues north and meets Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175
Iowa Highway 175 is a main east–west route in the northern portion of the state. The highway has a length of . Iowa Highway 175 enters the state by a Missouri River crossing between Decatur, Nebraska and Onawa. The highway continues westward as Nebraska Highway 51. Iowa 175's eastern...
near Ellsworth and meets the U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Route 20 in Iowa
U.S. Route 20 in Iowa is a major east–west artery which runs across the state, separating the northern third of Iowa from the southern two-thirds. It enters Iowa from Nebraska, concurrent with Interstate 129 and U.S Route 75, crossing the Missouri River at Sioux City. US 20 runs in a...
freeway near Williams
Williams, Iowa
Williams is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 427 at the 2000 census. Williams is a regional center of wind power generation.-Geography:Williams is located at ....
. It continues north until the Wright County
Wright County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,229 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,529 housing units, of which 5,625 were occupied.-2000 census:...
border, where it turns northeast. On this northeasterly alignment, I-35 meets Iowa Highway 3.
Shortly after meeting Iowa Highway 3, Interstate 35 turns north again and meets U.S. Highway 18 and Iowa Highway 27 near Clear Lake
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
. I-35 overlaps U.S. 18 and Iowa Highway 27 through the Clear Lake area, which is also served with Business Loop 35. U.S. 18 separates in Clear Lake and I-35 and Iowa 27, which serves as the designation in Iowa for 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...
, overlap for the rest of the way to the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
border, meeting Iowa Highway 9 near Hanlontown
Hanlontown, Iowa
Hanlontown is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 229 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hanlontown is located at ....
.
History
The first section of I-35, a 10 miles (16.1 km) long stretch from CummingCumming, Iowa
Cumming is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 351 at the 2010 census. It is the hometown of Senator Tom Harkin.A part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area, Cumming is considered one of the smallest incorporated suburbs of the metro area...
to Urbandale
Urbandale, 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 around September 21, 1958. Within five years, the interstate had grown to 55 miles (88.5 km), extending from U.S. Route 34 (US 34) Osceola
Osceola, Iowa
Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
to the eastern interchange with I-80 and I-235
Interstate 235 (Iowa)
Interstate 235 in Iowa is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that runs just north of downtown Des Moines through the heart of the Des Moines metropolitan area. I-235 runs from the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 in West Des Moines to the separation of the same two interstates in Ankeny...
. The next two sections of I-35, 25 miles (40.2 km) from Ankeny
Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 45,562 in the 2010 census, an increase of 68% from the 27,117 population in the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to US 30 near Ames
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
and 30 miles (48.3 km) from Ames to US 20 near Williams
Williams, Iowa
Williams is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 427 at the 2000 census. Williams is a regional center of wind power generation.-Geography:Williams is located at ....
.
By 1972, I-35 was completed at the Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
state lines. In southern Iowa, the last section, from Iowa 2 near Decatur City
Decatur City, Iowa
Decatur City is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 199 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Decatur City is located at ....
to the state line, was completed on December 2, 1970. In northern Iowa, the section from Iowa 9 near Hanlontown
Hanlontown, Iowa
Hanlontown is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 229 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hanlontown is located at ....
to the state line opened on December 12, 1972. The last section of I-35 to open, from US 20 to Mason City, opened on November 14, 1975.