The Iowa Highways Photo Gallery

Ottumwa

Ottumwa sights
	Before the US 63 bypass of Ottumwa opened in late 2007, two giant trailblazer signs north of Ottumwa showed 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.
	While the assembly in the previous photo is gone now, a jumbo IA 149 marker still exists at the interchange with US 63. IA 149 was extended southward to US 34 after the bypass opened (see terminus photos here).
	Jumbo-sized markers can also be found on the multiplexed segment of US 34/63 between the US 63 bypass and Roemer Avenue. These signs are at the east end of Business US 34, which features regular-sized signs that dwarf in comparison to these jumbo markers.
	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. Since this portion of US 63 (now Business US 63/IA 149) 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).
	Before 2004, most of Ottumwa's Business US 34 signs looked like they have been around a long time — possibly as early as the mid-1960s, when US 34 was rerouted from what is now Business US 34. While many of the old Business US 34 shields had replaced by the end of 2005, a few are still standing. This one, which is unchanged as of August 2008 despite the opening of the US 63 bypass (a "BUSINESS" banner should be in place of the "SOUTH") is just south of US 34.
	Newer Business US 34 markers have "BUSINESS" in the shield. In 2007 the western segment of Business US 34 was moved from Albia Road to Quincy Avenue, where this photo was taken. More photos can be found at the Business US 34 terminus photo page.

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. After the US 63 bypass opened, some of the signs had to be replaced in order to reflect the new route for US 63.
	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.
	View heading north on US 63. Business US 63, which replaces the old US 63 through Ottumwa, has its south end here.

US 63 bypass and US 34 expressway
	A new expressway segment between Ottumwa and Agency, photographed in June 2006, was built 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 was 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 was placed at the on-ramp where eastbound US 34 enters the bypass. Smaller orange signs directing drivers to businesses have been posted on the poles.
	This sign took its place after the US 63 bypass opened. A distance sign with the destinations found on the orange sign in the previous photo can be found heading eastbound on US 34.
	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.
	The west end of the US 34 expressway as of November 2006.
	This is the same interchange as of August 2008, heading west on US 34. Note that US 34 exits from itself at this point while US 63 continues northward.
	And this view is heading south on US 63; note how US 34's exit number (191) is still used. All freeway signs along the US 63 bypass are in Clearview.
	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. By mid-2007 this sign had been replaced with one using the traditional FHWA font.