Interstate 635 coming to Des Moines?

[Ingersoll1978]

Communities along the US 65/IA 5 bypass are beginning to band together to get the roadway re-designated as an interstate highway. Why this wasn't done before it was finished is surprising. According to the article, very little will need to be done to the highway to meet this designation. I think it's a great idea that'll give this highway one common number through it's entirety...instead of US 65/IA 5 bypass.

Read the story at the Business Record:
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... leID=10364

[hawk61401]

Excellent points in the Business Record why the bypass should be re-designated.

And I would add .... US 65/IA 5 bypass is too long of a name. It sounds pumpkinville. That name probably means nothing to most Iowans, especially the ones outside the Des Moines metro. Simply, "635" would make more sense to out of state travelers and everyone.

[Mastermind]

We've talked about this before, but wouldn't it make sense to just call it 35 and have the current 80/35 strictly 80?

[dogbo]

No...I-635 adds another urban interstate thus giving the metro more street cred!

[Cyclonefan]

Plus if it was named I-35 than it would have to double back on its self between altoona and the east mixmaster to continue north. So part of the interstate would still have to be 80/35

[Philby]

Plus if it was named I-35 than it would have to double back on its self between altoona and the east mixmaster to continue north. So part of the interstate would still have to be 80/35

I know what you're saying, but I don't think there's any law that says an interstate can ONLY travel the direction posted, I think as long as the general direction is N/S it would be fine to remain 35.

I think renaming the north bypass EITHER 35 OR 80 and the south bypass the other would help reduce confusion.

[Ingersoll1978]

We've talked about this before, but wouldn't it make sense to just call it 35 and have the current 80/35 strictly 80?

If they are concerned about the costs to change the signs along the route, imagine changing every mile marker or sign with a mile marker on it between the Minnesota and Missouri or the Nebraska and Illinois border (if I-80 or I-35 were realigned along this route). Designation with a different interstate number wouldn't result in a massive change of signage.

[wdmce]

I've always wondered why the state of Iowa didn't designate the road 880 or 835. (There is already a 280,480 and 680 in Iowa along with 235. 435 and 635 are in KC which can be a little confusing). It doesn't need federal approval for the designation. I'm not saying Interstate, just highway. This would be identical to 470 (the freeway loop around denver) or 840 (the freeway loop being built around nashville)

All it needs is a common name instead of several names. I can't believe that state DOT didn't take action on this when it was built. living on the west side, I just tell people to take the 5 bypass. I learned the hard way a couple of year ago when I told someone to get off on the 5 by Altoona and take it all the way around. I didn't realize the 5 designation didn't go all the way around...It boggled my mind. Only in Iowa.

[Mastermind]

It's not only in Iowa, there are confusing highways and interstates everywhere...

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

I've always wondered why the state of Iowa didn't designate the road 880 or 835. (There is already a 280,480 and 680 in Iowa along with 235. 435 and 635 are in KC which can be a little confusing). It doesn't need federal approval for the designation. I'm not saying Interstate, just highway. This would be identical to 470 (the freeway loop around denver) or 840 (the freeway loop being built around nashville)

All it needs is a common name instead of several names. I can't believe that state DOT didn't take action on this when it was built. living on the west side, I just tell people to take the 5 bypass. I learned the hard way a couple of year ago when I told someone to get off on the 5 by Altoona and take it all the way around. I didn't realize the 5 designation didn't go all the way around...It boggled my mind. Only in Iowa.

Then you hear traffic reports of the bypass being called the Purple Heart Highway...first time I heard the bypass being called that, I asked to myself what the hell is that?

[conquistador2]

Philby said:

I know what you're saying, but I don't think there's any law that says an interstate can ONLY travel the direction posted, I think as long as the general direction is N/S it would be fine to remain 35.

I think renaming the north bypass EITHER 35 OR 80 and the south bypass the other would help reduce confusion.

One problem with changing I-35's route is that there's still an interstate between the west mixmaster and the south bypass. You'd just have to rename that with something else, unless it was made an extension of I-235.

The other problem is that you would probably want I-35 to represent the fastest way to go north or south out of the metro area. Looking at a map, the south bypass has lots of twists & turns and it's actually a stupid road to take unless you actually have a specific destination on the south or east side of the city. I-35/I-80 is much more direct, no matter which direction you're coming from or going towards.

[lunksmoo]

Naming the beltway with an interstate highway number makes too much sense, I doubt this will get done any time soon.

[SpinningBird]

I've always wondered why the state of Iowa didn't designate the road 880 or 835. (There is already a 280,480 and 680 in Iowa along with 235. 435 and 635 are in KC which can be a little confusing). It doesn't need federal approval for the designation. I'm not saying Interstate, just highway. This would be identical to 470 (the freeway loop around denver) or 840 (the freeway loop being built around nashville)

All it needs is a common name instead of several names. I can't believe that state DOT didn't take action on this when it was built. living on the west side, I just tell people to take the 5 bypass. I learned the hard way a couple of year ago when I told someone to get off on the 5 by Altoona and take it all the way around. I didn't realize the 5 designation didn't go all the way around...It boggled my mind. Only in Iowa.

Stop it, you are making way too much sense!

[wmjindsm]

Then you hear traffic reports of the bypass being called the Purple Heart Highway...first time I heard the bypass being called that, I asked to myself what the hell is that?

I found a couple things that might let you know about the PHH

http://purplehearthwy.saservices.biz/Home.aspx

a cached article from the Register:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=us

from the DSM Business Record:
http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp? ... leID=10364

...But, he said, the highways are at least close to meeting the highest level of design standards that interstates require, and that's leading to the hope that members of the Purple Heart Highway Collaborative (PHHC) hold that their communities can reap the benefits the collaborative feels come with an interstate designation.

The PHHC is made up of representatives from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the six cities (Altoona, Carlisle, Des Moines, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines) and two counties (Polk and Warren) along the U.S. 65/Iowa 5 bypass, who are all working together to promote economic development along the highway.

The collaborative intends to keep the Purple Heart Highway distinction for the bypass even if the highway is designated an interstate, but there's no doubt among supporters of the effort - make it an interstate, and economic development will follow.

[Braniff]

Today's DM Register carried a blurb about Des Moines city council member Brian Meyer planning to speak at today's council meeting in favor of designating part of the beltway as "Interstate 335". It will be interesting to see what Meyer's proposal includes.

Other points to ponder--could an Interstate designation be added to the entire beltway? And if my memory is correct, would an even number be more appropriate (i.e. Interstate 880 or Interstate 835)?

[Mastermind]

If the designation is for only part of the beltway, than it would be odd numbered.

[hawk61401]

Why are we talking about this almost a year later? It's not complicated. It should be done. Des Moines is the capital city - it should look like the capital city. If you compare the maps of the Quad Cities and Des Moines, Des Moines looks rinky dink in comparison. The Des Moines metro has 200,000 more people than the Q.C. It should be able to look as good on a map as the Q.C. http://bit.ly/kMuca0

[hawk61401]

Me thinks IDOT is looking a little inept. The latest from IDOT is that a study will take over a year. Already, a year has passed when IDOT officials were saying many questions surround the redesignation process and if the project would even move forward because this is the first redesignation request the agency has dealt with.

An interstate highway system was built from the Illinois border to Nebraska, from the Missouri border to Minnesota, and it takes all kinds of studies to rename a 10 mile stretch of road that is already built. Amazing!

A quote from almost a year ago ..

"I don't have any idea, time-frame-wise, how long that would take; I don't know how long a study will take; I don't know what the issues are; I don't know what the cost is. I mean, who is going to pay for it? Do the area businesses want it to change?" said Scott Dockstader, District I engineer for the IDOT. "So there is a lot of thought that would have to go into it."

[econboy]

Well, I'm just glad to see it moving forward.

The 'studies' are part of our culture now. We study everything because you can't move too fast without pissing off certain groups of people with special interest lobbies.

Back when 80 and 35 where built, it was done and was a done deal. Period.

I assume the biggest issue DOT is worried about is the businesses using the road for business purposes and for the criteria that come with upgrading to an 'interstate'.

Still, I think if this would happen in any other place, it would move alot quicker. Probably some of that midwest 'scared of rapid change' type thing causing DOT to go slow with it.

[Ingersoll1978]

Glad to hear in the Register article that the proposed number will probably need to be changed to reflect the national numbering system in place (see the diagram above). I would assume it will get an even number designation. The only 80 designation left for Iowa would be 880. Otherwise...it would be 435, 635 or 835.

[siouxperland]

Ummm... you can't just rename a highway as an interstate designation and consider it interstate, it would take the Feds accepting responsibility of this road as such, a federal highway. You can name it anything you want but naming alone won't make it an interstate highway recognized as such. We went through the same thing a decade ago wanting to turn the 15 miles of bypass around Sioux City as I-429.

[Braniff]

Ummm... you can't just rename a highway as an interstate designation and consider it interstate, it would take the Feds accepting responsibility of this road as such, a federal highway. You can name it anything you want but naming alone won't make it an interstate highway recognized as such. We went through the same thing a decade ago wanting to turn the 15 miles of bypass around Sioux City as I-429.

That begs a question: As one who used to travel to Chicago with my family on the freeways (they are called expressways there) in the early 1970s, I recalled that the Eisenhower Expressway was once Interstate-90 and that part of the Kennedy Expressway to O'Hare airport was a state highway. Later on, Interstate-90 was routed to the Kennedy Expressway, a spur from the Kennedy was designated as a three-digit Interstate highway and the Eisenhower Expressway became Interstate-290. Does anyone know if there was much trouble or hassle in the process of designating the Chicago-area expressways as Interstate-highways--or redesignating them (in terms of the Eisenhower)?

[Mastermind]

Ummm... you can't just rename a highway as an interstate designation and consider it interstate, it would take the Feds accepting responsibility of this road as such, a federal highway. You can name it anything you want but naming alone won't make it an interstate highway recognized as such. We went through the same thing a decade ago wanting to turn the 15 miles of bypass around Sioux City as I-429.

Yep, if its renamed the Feds pay for upkeep.

[siouxperland]

Ummm... you can't just rename a highway as an interstate designation and consider it interstate, it would take the Feds accepting responsibility of this road as such, a federal highway. You can name it anything you want but naming alone won't make it an interstate highway recognized as such. We went through the same thing a decade ago wanting to turn the 15 miles of bypass around Sioux City as I-429.

Yep, if its renamed the Feds pay for upkeep.

And they're soooo good about maintaining what they have now...

[Mastermind]

I would say they are. If you asked me if i would rather travel cross conutry on a State Hwy or Federal interstate, im sure 85% of people would choose interstate.

[JMsioux]

For certain and the disparity in road quality is bigger in other states like Michigan which allows a lot more weight on state roads vs. the 80K limit on interstates.

[hawk61401]

Ok, so if I understand this correctly, no matter what IDOT decides, the Feds have final approval and veto power.

[JMsioux]

According to an article on Hwy 41 which runs from Green Bay to Milwaukee, the Federal Highway Administration has to give approval to an interstate and it will then be assigned a number.
http://www.whbl.com/news/articles/2011/ ... nterstate/

[siouxperland]

Ok, so if I understand this correctly, no matter what IDOT decides, the Feds have final approval and veto power.

That would be the case, yes. If it's something that benefits mainly local and regional traffic and does not add much to a national transporation plan, it's unlikely they'd add it. Even if they do add it, it can take decades before it's official an "I" designated highway. Interstates have design minimums of thickness of concrete, width of lanes, barriers, etc. People are shocked that the I-29 rebuild here of 12 miles will be nearly $400M when all said and done in 2017 but taking a road designed in 1958 and bringing it to 2011 standards while most of it is shoved right up next to a river is involved. So, anything hoping to be an interstate would need to meet standards.

In Georgia, I-985, 24 mile spur from I-85 took 20 years to get it's interstate designation after GA DOT applied.

You might want to check out http://www.interstate-guide.com/index.html, a website dedicated to Interstates.

[Keepgrowingdsm]

Is this still being worked on??? I knew at one time there was a big push for the name change as it made land around it easier to sell being on an interstate?