WEST End: I-35 exit 147, Hamilton County
(text is in present tense)
Facing east on D20
Since IA 941 is an unsigned highway, this is the only "End" around. Starting from this interchange, 941 goes east from I-35. However, US 20 didn't reach this road until half a mile east of here...right?
Facing south
At the far right of the above picture is this sign directing traffic on the onramp. Smart travelers could use this route as a fast connection between where IA 928 (old 20) intersects I-35 and 20 a mile east. It makes you wonder why, when the freeway west of 35 was opened, the DOT didn't go ahead and bypass Williams and take this mile over...or did it?
At least as far back as 1981, the mile of road between I-35 and 20 has been marked like a state highway. This is from the 1986 map. Its designation is unknown, as 941 was actually being used for secret highways elsewhere in the state until 1991, when the entire route of 20 on this east-west piece became 941. It could have been treated like an 'Alt 20' although even then it would have had a number.
Facing east on 941
On the left is the only signage at the I-35 interchange past "End D20". R75 goes north from the east end of IA 928. On the right is the Mystery Mile Marker. It is a mile west of MM 159, which is at the end of 928 and on old 20 itself. But this one isn't.
At 928's east end 941 assumes the true route of old 20 and heads east to Iowa Falls. It actually crosses the Iowa River three times - the South Fork west of Alden, and the river proper twice.
Facing east on 941
Unlike Hamilton County, which has assimilated 941 and 928 into its standard signing scheme, Hardin County marks 941 as such.
EAST End: City limits of Iowa Falls, Hardin County
Facing east on 941
Over two miles of 941 in Iowa Falls were given to the city in November 1995, according to the Washington Avenue bridge site linked below. Mile markers 172 and 173 are still up between here and 20/65.
Facing west on 941
Surrounding area information: Washington Avenue bridge
Old 20's second crossing of the Iowa River proper, in Iowa Falls, is the Washington Avenue bridge, a structure built in 1934 that now resides on the National Register of Historic Places. You can read about it here. (US 20 still crosses the Iowa River once in Iowa Falls, just south of where it once joined 65 but now stays with it through town.)
After you cross the bridge you enter Iowa Falls' business district and approach the old east end below.
Old EAST End: US 20/US 65/Oak St., Iowa Falls, Hardin County
Facing east on 941
Here's an interesting picture: The signs are reflected in the wall of the Iowa Falls State Bank.
Facing east on 941
While behind us, Washington is a main street, ahead of us it dead-ends in a few blocks.
There are also a few ancient alignments of 20 and 65 in Hardin County. While I'm not quite sure whether County Road D15 between Alden and Iowa Falls was one of them - the 1930 map indicates a stairstep pattern east of Williams - others I am sure of. Before an early change, 20/65 went north a couple of blocks and then headed east on what is now D15. County Road S45 (the gray line descending from where 65 meets 20 on the Franklin/Hardin line) was 65 going north, while D15 continued east to Ackley. The current-until-late-2003 alignment of 20 between Iowa Falls and Ackley was done in 1930.
Last seen: 2003
All pictures by me: 12/8/02
Page created 12/15/02; last updated 3/8/04
