Iowa Highway 346
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 346 is a short state highway in north-northeastern Iowa
. Iowa 346 begins at U.S. Route 218
/ Iowa Highway 27 at Nashua, Iowa
and ends at the intersection of U.S. Route 18
and U.S. Route 63 south of New Hampton
.
(US 218) and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints highway, west of Nashua
. It heads east and intersects Amherst Boulevard, which is the former alignment of US 218 through Nashua. It crosses the Cedar River adjacent to the dam which holds back Red Cedar Lake and passes the Big Four Fairgrounds before leaving Nashua.
From Nashua, Iowa 346 takes an S-curve
to the north and east at Bradford
. After exiting the curve, it heads due east for the remainder of its length along section lines. The route travels 9 miles (14.5 km) through rolling farmland before ending at an interchange with U.S. Route 18 and U.S. Route 63 in Richland Township
.
connecting Bradford
to U.S. Route 218
in Nashua
. By 1954, Iowa 346 had been extended east to the intersection of U.S. Route 18 and U.S. Route 63 west of Fredericksburg
. After the Avenue of the Saints
corridor was constructed and opened in 2003, the western end of Iowa 346 was moved 1/3 mi to the west.
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 346 begins at U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...
/ Iowa Highway 27 at Nashua, Iowa
Nashua, Iowa
Nashua is a city in Chickasaw and Floyd counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 1,663 an increase of 45, or 2.8%, from 1,618 reported at the 2000 census...
and ends at the intersection of U.S. Route 18
U.S. Route 18 in Iowa
U.S. Route 18 is the northernmost east–west U.S. Highway in the state of Iowa. As with all state highways in Iowa, it is maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation . It enters the state by crossing the Big Sioux River between Inwood and Canton, South Dakota. It travels and...
and U.S. Route 63 south of New Hampton
New Hampton, Iowa
New Hampton is a city in Chickasaw County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,692 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chickasaw County.-Geography:New Hampton is located at ....
.
Route description
Iowa Higwhay 346 begins at exit 220 of U.S. Route 218U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...
(US 218) and Iowa Highway 27, the Avenue of the Saints highway, west of Nashua
Nashua, Iowa
Nashua is a city in Chickasaw and Floyd counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 1,663 an increase of 45, or 2.8%, from 1,618 reported at the 2000 census...
. It heads east and intersects Amherst Boulevard, which is the former alignment of US 218 through Nashua. It crosses the Cedar River adjacent to the dam which holds back Red Cedar Lake and passes the Big Four Fairgrounds before leaving Nashua.
From Nashua, Iowa 346 takes an S-curve
Reverse curve
In civil engineering, a reverse curve is a section of the horizontal alignment of a highway or railroad route in which a curve to the left or right is followed immediately by a curve in the opposite direction....
to the north and east at Bradford
Bradford, Iowa
Bradford is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Iowa, United States....
. After exiting the curve, it heads due east for the remainder of its length along section lines. The route travels 9 miles (14.5 km) through rolling farmland before ending at an interchange with U.S. Route 18 and U.S. Route 63 in Richland Township
Richland Township, Chickasaw County, Iowa
Richland Township is one of twelve townships in Chickasaw County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 369.-Geography:Richland Township covers an area of and contains no incorporated settlements...
.
History
Iowa Highway 346 was originally a 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...
connecting Bradford
Bradford, Iowa
Bradford is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Iowa, United States....
to U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...
in Nashua
Nashua, Iowa
Nashua is a city in Chickasaw and Floyd counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 1,663 an increase of 45, or 2.8%, from 1,618 reported at the 2000 census...
. By 1954, Iowa 346 had been extended east to the intersection of U.S. Route 18 and U.S. Route 63 west of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Iowa
Fredericksburg is a city in Chickasaw County, Iowa, United States. The population was 984 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fredericksburg is located at ....
. After 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...
corridor was constructed and opened in 2003, the western end of Iowa 346 was moved 1/3 mi to the west.