Iowa Highway 316
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 316 is a 5.183 miles (8.3 km) long spur route
in central Iowa
. Iowa 316 begins at Iowa Highway 5 south of Swan, Iowa
and ends at the eastern city limits of Runnells
. Prior to 2003, Iowa 316 extended north to Iowa Highway 163 north of Runnells, but that portion was turned over to Polk County
. Iowa 316's primary purpose is a crossing of the Des Moines River
south of Runnells
.
. The first 1/6 mi are in Warren County, while the next 2+1/3 mi of Iowa 316 form the Warren/Marion
county border. Iowa 316 crosses over a BNSF Railway
line and turns into Warren County. For the rest of its length, the highway closely parallels these railroad tracks. Iowa 316 in Warren County is bordered to the south and east by the Middle River
and to the north and east by the Des Moines River
, and occasionally, Lake Red Rock
. The area north of the highway serves as an overflow basin for Lake Red Rock, which is formed by a dam 20 miles (32.2 km) downstream near Pella
. The highway and the railroad tracks approach the main channel on a causeway
. Iowa 316 crosses the main channel at the Warren / Polk
county line, on a simple girder bridge
, while the adjacent railroad crosses on an over-deck truss bridge
. Iowa 316 continues north into Polk County on another causeway for 2 miles (3.2 km), where it curves to the northwest towards Runnells
. At the Runnells city limits, Iowa 316 ends abruptly, but the highway continues as McKinney Street.
from U.S. Route 163 (US 163) south to Runnells
. In 1937, US 163 became Iowa Highway 163. It was extended south to Iowa Highway 5 in the early 1980s, appearing on the state map by 1983. In 2003, the 7 miles (11.3 km) north of Runnells were turned over to Polk County
. The southern portion of Iowa 316 was kept because it is an important crossing of the Des Moines River
.
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
in central 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...
. Iowa 316 begins at Iowa Highway 5 south of Swan, Iowa
Swan, Iowa
Swan is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 121 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Swan is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and ends at the eastern city limits of Runnells
Runnells, Iowa
Runnells is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Prior to 2003, Iowa 316 extended north to Iowa Highway 163 north of Runnells, but that portion was turned over to Polk County
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
. Iowa 316's primary purpose is a crossing of 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...
south of Runnells
Runnells, Iowa
Runnells is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Route description
Iowa Highway 316 begins at an intersection with Iowa Highway 5 south of SwanSwan, Iowa
Swan is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 121 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Swan is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. The first 1/6 mi are in Warren County, while the next 2+1/3 mi of Iowa 316 form the Warren/Marion
Marion County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,309 in the county, with a population density of . There were 13,914 housing units, of which 12,723 were occupied.-2000 census:...
county border. Iowa 316 crosses over a BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
line and turns into Warren County. For the rest of its length, the highway closely parallels these railroad tracks. Iowa 316 in Warren County is bordered to the south and east by the Middle River
Middle River (Iowa)
The Middle River is a tributary of the Des Moines River in south-central Iowa in the United States. It is long and drains an area of . Via the Des Moines River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
and to the north and east by 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...
, and occasionally, Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)
Originally the city of Red Rock, Lake Red Rock, also referred to as Red Rock Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River, about 55 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The dam was completed in 1969 as a flood control project by the United States Army Corps of...
. The area north of the highway serves as an overflow basin for Lake Red Rock, which is formed by a dam 20 miles (32.2 km) downstream near Pella
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.- History :...
. The highway and the railroad tracks approach the main channel on a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
. Iowa 316 crosses the main channel at the Warren / Polk
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
county line, on a simple girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
, while the adjacent railroad crosses on an over-deck truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
. Iowa 316 continues north into Polk County on another causeway for 2 miles (3.2 km), where it curves to the northwest towards Runnells
Runnells, Iowa
Runnells is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. At the Runnells city limits, Iowa 316 ends abruptly, but the highway continues as McKinney Street.
History
In 1935, Iowa 316 began as a 7 miles (11.3 km) long spur routeSpur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
from U.S. Route 163 (US 163) south to Runnells
Runnells, Iowa
Runnells is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 352 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. In 1937, US 163 became Iowa Highway 163. It was extended south to Iowa Highway 5 in the early 1980s, appearing on the state map by 1983. In 2003, the 7 miles (11.3 km) north of Runnells were turned over to Polk County
Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 430,640 in the 2010 census, an increase from 374,601 in the 2000 census. The county seat is Des Moines, which is also the capital city of Iowa...
. The southern portion of Iowa 316 was kept because it is an important crossing of 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...
.