The Iowa Highways Photo Gallery

Ottumwa

Ottumwa sights
	Two giant trailblazer signs north of Ottumwa show where US 63 exits from its old alignment onto an expressway segment. IA 149 replaced part of US 63 in July of 1997 after US 63 was realigned between Oskaloosa and Ottumwa.
	Why are the "up" arrows on opposite sides of this sign in Ottumwa? Because the one for Eddyville was a right arrow during the days IA 23 ended there. This is on northbound US 63; since it went over IA 23 on a viaduct (as the old IA 23 terminus photo page shows, traffic had to make a right turn and follow a couple of city streets to access IA 23).
	Most of Ottumwa's Business US 34 signs, like this one at its east end, look like they've been around a long time — possibly as early as the mid-1960s, when US 34 was rerouted from what is now Business 34. Not only that, but the "END" banner appeared on the verge of falling off in this March 2002 photo.
	Although that assembly was fixed by October 2002, it was replaced with this new sign by April 2004. Note that "BUSINESS" is inside the US 34 shield. US 34 continued east of here until the new four-lane section opened in October 2006; the old segment east of here is now closed to through traffic.
	While many of the old Business US 34 shields were replaced by the end of 2005, a few were still standing. This one is just south of US 34/63.

The US 34/63 roundabout In 2006, the "mixmaster" intersection of US 34 and southbound US 63 was reconstructed to eliminate the three-way stop that previously existed here. While the exit ramps remained intact, the three-way stop was replaced with a roundabout (or traffic circle) that opened to traffic in the fall of 2006. Although this is not the first roundabout in Iowa, this is the first one on a state-maintained highway.
	This is a view heading east on US 34 approaching US 63. Freeway-style signs using the new Clearview font are present just before the circle.
	A closer look at the roundabout heading east on US 34, with a warning sign for traffic to slow down to 10 MPH as drivers navigate the roundabout.
	Signage heading west on US 34. West of here, US 34 and US 63 are together for about a mile and a half through a four-lane segment with two interchanges but a 45 MPH speed limit.
	View heading north on US 63.

US 34 expressway
	A new expressway segment between Ottumwa and Agency, photographed in June 2006, is under construction as part of the Des Moines-to-Burlington expressway project. While a four-lane divided highway was built between the two cities in the 1950s, this segment is being reconstructed to meet modern expressway standards. (Photographed by Jeff Morrison)
	A short four-lane extension of US 34 in Ottumwa was constructed to connect the existing US 34 to the US 34/63 bypass. For the time being, this orange sign is in place at the on-ramp where eastbound US 34 enters the bypass. Smaller orange signs directing drivers to businesses have been posted on the poles.
	November 2006 view of the bypass looking southeast from the overpass at the US 34 west interchange.
	View of construction of the US 63 bypass in November 2006, looking northwest from the US 34 interchange. US 63 will bypass Ottumwa to the east and connect with the existing expressway at the interchange with IA 149 southeast of the airport.
	The west end of the US 34 expressway as of November 2006. When the US 63 bypass opens in the fall of 2007, US 63 will follow US 34 from this interchange to the roundabout intersection southwest of here.
	Permanent big green signs had not been put up at any of the interchanges as of November 2006; instead, temporary signs like this one at County Road V37 in Agency had been placed at exit ramps. Note the use of Clearview on this sign.