Iowa Highway 60
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 60 is a north–south state highway
in northwest Iowa
. The highway runs at a southwest-to-northeast angle. The southern end of Iowa Highway 60 is near Le Mars
at a freeway interchange with U.S. Route 75 and U.S. Route 75 Business. Its northern end is at the Minnesota border just south of Bigelow, Minnesota
, where the highway continues in Minnesota as Minnesota State Highway 60
. Since 2004, the highway has been upgraded to expressway status, with some freeway sections, as part of a highway corridor connecting Sioux City
with the Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota.
at an interchange with U.S. Route 75 (US 75) and its business loop. Northbound Iowa 60 is a continuation of northbound US 75, while northbound US 75 traffic must exit to continue on that route. Iowa 60 heads to the northeast adjacent to the Floyd River
along an four-lane expressway
. Over its first 13 miles (20.9 km), it passes the small town of Seney and acres (hectares) of farmland until it reaches Alton
.
It continues northeast, bypassing Hospers
and Sheldon
. On the Sheldon bypass, it meets U.S. Highway 18. It proceeds north and bypasses Ashton
, then continues northeast to bypass Sibley
, where it meets Iowa Highway 9. The highway continues northeasterly until ending at the Minnesota
border just south of Bigelow, Minnesota.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in northwest 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...
. The highway runs at a southwest-to-northeast angle. The southern end of Iowa Highway 60 is near Le Mars
Le Mars, Iowa
Le Mars is a city in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,237 at the 2000 census. Le Mars is the home of Wells' Dairy, the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location and is the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells...
at a freeway interchange with U.S. Route 75 and U.S. Route 75 Business. Its northern end is at the Minnesota border just south of Bigelow, Minnesota
Bigelow, Minnesota
Bigelow is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 235 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. The town of Bigelow is located in southcentral Nobles County in section 31 of Bigelow...
, where the highway continues in Minnesota as Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 60 is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 25 upon crossing the Mississippi River.Highway 60 is...
. Since 2004, the highway has been upgraded to expressway status, with some freeway sections, as part of a highway corridor connecting Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
with the Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota.
Route description
Iowa 60 begins north of Le MarsLe Mars, Iowa
Le Mars is a city in and the county seat of Plymouth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,237 at the 2000 census. Le Mars is the home of Wells' Dairy, the world's largest producer of ice cream novelties in one location and is the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capital of the World". Wells...
at an interchange with U.S. Route 75 (US 75) and its business loop. Northbound Iowa 60 is a continuation of northbound US 75, while northbound US 75 traffic must exit to continue on that route. Iowa 60 heads to the northeast adjacent to the Floyd River
Floyd River
The Floyd River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in northwestern Iowa in the United States. It enters the Missouri at Sioux City, and is named for Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.-Course:...
along an four-lane expressway
Expressway
Expressway may refer to:*Controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane dividers, etc., for high-speed traffic*Limited-access road, a lower grade of highway or arterial road...
. Over its first 13 miles (20.9 km), it passes the small town of Seney and acres (hectares) of farmland until it reaches Alton
Alton, Iowa
Alton is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States, along the Floyd River. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,095.-Geography:Alton is located at ....
.
It continues northeast, bypassing Hospers
Hospers, Iowa
Hospers is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States, along the Floyd River. The population was 672 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hospers is located at ....
and Sheldon
Sheldon, Iowa
Sheldon is a city in O'Brien and Sioux Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, along the Floyd River. The population was 4,914 at the 2000 census; it is the largest city in O'Brien County.- History and culture :...
. On the Sheldon bypass, it meets U.S. Highway 18. It proceeds north and bypasses Ashton
Ashton, Iowa
Ashton is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 461 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ashton is located at ....
, then continues northeast to bypass Sibley
Sibley, Iowa
Sibley is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Osceola County. It is named after Henry Hastings Sibley, a prominent General during the Dakota War of 1862, who eventually became the first territorial governor of...
, where it meets Iowa Highway 9. The highway continues northeasterly until ending at 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 just south of Bigelow, Minnesota.