interstate iowa interstate iowa auxiliary interstate highway runs north downtown heart metropolitan area runs junction interstate interstate separation highway approximately miles long seen little improvement construction 1960s completely rebuilt widened project spanned 2000s prior reconstruction lanes direction lane near downtown entire route lanes traffic direction additional lanes closer heart city modernized freeway handles average vehicles day making busiest highway state iowa route description interstate begins western intersection interstate interstate known locally eastbound exits highway joins northbound heads east immediately half diamond interchange 50th street mile later partial cloverleaf interchange renamed 35th street proximity tight partial cloverleaf interchange meets street 8th street interchange particularly tight line east street 8th street actually single road north street follows street numbering plan south 8th street follows older street numbering plan 63rd street interchange picks fourth lane eastbound travel drops lane westbound city limits passes heavily wooded neighborhood near 42nd street interchange curves south half mile later interchange 31st street provides access drake university north governor mansion south east 31st street briefly picks fifth lane drops lane westbound creating lane freeway west downtown stretch freeway receives average vehicles day making busiest stretch road state eastbound interchanges connecting downtown parkway 19th street pair way streets lead traffic west downtown known locally enters downtown northwest interchanges combined westbound closer combined interchange direction filters rest downtown traffic destinations seventh street sixth avenue street second avenue pairs way streets fourth lane traffic drops combined interchange passes main iowa events center destination western shore des botanical center eastern shore eastern passes iowa state capitol interchange mile east interchange relatively parallel provides access northbound eastbound traffic university avenue begins curving north dividing industrial district west residential areas east miles north intersects partial cloverleaf interchange continues north miles meets interstate interstate history section interstate open cottage grove avenue opened december seven years sections opened spreading east west completed october october city council designated honor seldom people simply refer march year long project completely rebuild bridges cross began years consisted rebuilding bridges cross starting 42nd street final years project entailed finishing remaining bridges widening entire length highway pedestrian bridges additional highway improvement plan pedestrian bridges located 6th 40th 44th streets bridges replacements bridges narrow accommodate newly widened highway highly visible bridges act icons locating neighborhoods travelers freeway design pedestrian bridges completed boston based bridge designer collaboration bridges 6th street 40th street pedestrian bridge 44th street completed new design utilizes basket handle steel arches clear spans approximately feet inclined cables connect steel blue arches pre stressed concrete deck selecting tied arch form able disruption traffic minimum construction innovative curved screen system enhance security appearance structure creating visually appealing experience pedestrians bridge resulting series bridges created distinctive form unique city state city recently bridges led lighting exit list entire route
Interstate 235 (Iowa)