Quick HWY 30 Question
- Thread starter wartknight
- Start date
You're lucky, I was stuck in Algona for 18 years
I use 20 when I'm coming down to Ames from home (169-20-I35), but I see no real reason to make Hwy 20 4 lane all the way over to Sioux City. At the same time, I have a grandma who lives in Woodbine which is just off Hwy 30 outside of Council Bluffs/Omaha, and I see no reason to make 30 4 lanes all the way from Ames to Council Bluffs. The reality is if I'm going on any extended trip, I'm going to use I80. If they would do some sort of project, I'd hope for I80 just because it benefits a LOT more people potentially.
You're lucky, I was stuck in Algona for 18 years
I use 20 when I'm coming down to Ames from home (169-20-I35), but I see no real reason to make Hwy 20 4 lane all the way over to Sioux City. At the same time, I have a grandma who lives in Woodbine which is just off Hwy 30 outside of Council Bluffs/Omaha, and I see no reason to make 30 4 lanes all the way from Ames to Council Bluffs. The reality is if I'm going on any extended trip, I'm going to use I80. If they would do some sort of project, I'd hope for I80 just because it benefits a LOT more people potentially.
The problem with "either-or" answers is that current decisions always influence future decisions. Look at how long it took the Avenue of the Saints to become reality.
Yeah, trust me, I remember seeing that was supposed to be done before I hit high school and I know that sure as hell didn't happen.
- Mar 23, 2006
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Divert half the traffic via Fulton Il and use the north bridge and the rest over the 30 bridge. Issue solved.:biggrin:
:no:
They are slowly doing this, I don't recall the project's name, but they are slowly working on expanding Camanche Ave into a road system that would handle the traffic.
However you still have the two lane bottle neck from I 88 to Clinton since hwy 30 is two lanes through Morrison to the Mississippi.
They are trying to get a bypass going around Morrison. Don't count on Illinois getting their act together on it anytime soon though...
I'd like to see a bypass around Clinton- it would make my trip on 30 to IL so much faster..plus Clinton kinda smells..
Any plans on bypassing the entire state of Illinois?They are trying to get a bypass going around Morrison. Don't count on Illinois getting their act together on it anytime soon though...
I'd like to see a bypass around Clinton- it would make my trip on 30 to IL so much faster..plus Clinton kinda smells..
- Mar 23, 2006
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I'd like to see a bypass around Clinton- it would make my trip on 30 to
IL so much faster..plus Clinton kinda smells..
Actually they do have one, but it's not convenient for your or my uses. Take the Mill Creek Parkway (by the casino on 30) up to Main Ave/hwy 136 and follow 136 over the north bridge and through Fulton before reconnecting with 30. Like I said, it's not convenient, but it does avoid ADM and National By Products. (the smells)
I understand you're being sarcastic, but that doesn't work nearly as well as you would think. That's how the Quad Cities ended up with the "I-74 mess" that we currently have - The original span was built in the 1930s to service US 6, and sometime in the '50s (I think) they put up the second span to alleviate traffic. Then in the '60s they decide to use that bridge for I-74, even though it doesn't even come close to spec for Interstates. That bridge is now an adventure to drive across during rush hour at speeds of 25 mph. Granted, Clinton, much smaller population, much less traffic concerns. But you still have to consider whether those bridges were designed for that kind of traffic load.
And I think here's the deal breaker, at least on the Illinois side. Even through parts of Chicago's suburbs, US 30 doesn't look all that much different than US 30 between Cedar Rapids and Ames - and for those parts that are 4 lanes, it more resembles Duff Avenue than it does any of those 4 lane highways. Another strike against US 30 is between just east of Sterling-Rock Falls and Joliet US 30 splits I-80 and I-88. Which means there is already existing Interstate infrastructure through Northern Illinois. Plus you have to take into consideration whether an expanded US 30 would even be used by Chicago businesses. US 30 passes on the Southern suburbs, so Northern businesses won't be inclined to use it - they'll just continue using I-88. While some Southside business may consider using US 30, I-80 also passes through out the South side, so most businesses will probably continue using I-80. And since the Quad Cities already has the existing infrastructure for crossing the Mississippi (an implied beltway with two Mississippi River crossings), as well as higher speed limits on the interstate and the world's largest truckstop nearby as well as other existing infrastructure and businesses, what motivation does Chicago businesses really have to use an expanded US 30? It almost makes as much sense to continue accessing Cedar Rapids via I-80.
No, just as I don't ask folks from Northern Iowa to pay for roads in Des Moines. I pay property taxes to make those roads happen.
The issue is that the population centers in Iowa provide most of the revenue for the state in terms of taxes. Rural areas and services are subsidized by urban areas. US-20 from Fort Dodge to Sioux city runs through some of the most rural areas in Iowa. I obviously don't have a problem with basic roads between places, but the traffic - even theoretical - between Dubuque and Sioux City just doesn't justify 4 lanes all the way across Iowa. If it did, the road would already be built.
If northern Iowa wants bigger roads, they can find a way to get them funded and find a way to raise the money to maintain them. Otherwise, spend the extra 10-15 minutes on the drive and save taxpayers millions.
Just out of curiosity, do you think there's justification for I-80 to be 6 lanes all the way across the state, or at least from Davenport to Des Moines? Personally, I think so. It's not fun playing dodge with that many semis on a crowded stretch of highway.
Re: YOU'RE ALL OLD SOFTIES
I drive C.R.-to-Ames for all football games and a dozen or so basketball games. It's more than half divided four-lane, and grading is underway for several more miles.
Highway 30 is not dangerous and I much prefer it to I-80 with its stupendous truck traffic.
Highway 30 may be BORING, but in other way it is fine. And there's Maidrite at Tama.
I drive C.R.-to-Ames for all football games and a dozen or so basketball games. It's more than half divided four-lane, and grading is underway for several more miles.
Highway 30 is not dangerous and I much prefer it to I-80 with its stupendous truck traffic.
Highway 30 may be BORING, but in other way it is fine. And there's Maidrite at Tama.
I just hope the two lane between Cedar Rapids and the Hills before Toledo can get repaved soon. Last winter really did a number on that road. And I imagine after this winter is over it will be ever worse.
By that time 30 may not be drivable anymore =/
By that time 30 may not be drivable anymore =/
I think it's certainly getting there, at least between I-74 and I-35.
Of course I'd prefer to have more train traffic for a variety of reasons, but with gas prices back down, I doubt that will happen anytime soon.
That's actually becoming more and more of a possibility, with an Amtrak line connecting Iowa City, Moline, and Chicago becoming closer to reality with each and every passing day. Recent news suggests that Amtrak has it down to two routes between Moline and Chicago, and Moline's Centre Station being the location for its station. You have to imagine this line will eventually extend out to Des Moines, Omaha, and who knows how much further west.
As a transportation engineer, I find jumbopackage's argument not uncommon in your average layperson. Planning isn't my area, he'd be best served to contact a DOT transportation engineer or planner working with infrastructure needs.
People forget or aren't aware of basic principles (among many: structural need, construction/maintenance costs, and most importantly user costs which are enormous when taken as a whole and involve everything from impact on the actual vehicle, fuel, displacement costs due to path interruption/diversion, and myriad other things).
This major corridor planning isn't just done without planning and concern for the economy and welfare of the state of Iowa and its communities.
If it's really important to you, contact the DOT. They're more than happy to answer questions and concerns.
Highway - Iowa Department of Transportation
People forget or aren't aware of basic principles (among many: structural need, construction/maintenance costs, and most importantly user costs which are enormous when taken as a whole and involve everything from impact on the actual vehicle, fuel, displacement costs due to path interruption/diversion, and myriad other things).
This major corridor planning isn't just done without planning and concern for the economy and welfare of the state of Iowa and its communities.
If it's really important to you, contact the DOT. They're more than happy to answer questions and concerns.
Highway - Iowa Department of Transportation
I would LOVE Amtrak service from Des Moines to Chicago.
I'd also love it going west.
I was referring more to freight, though. If we could migrate shipping stuff via semi truck to an efficient rail-based system, it would significantly reduce wear and tear on the interstate highway system, and reduce transportation costs considerably as well, due to trains being much more efficient when loaded than trucks are. Think a national "interstate railway" instead of highway. With regularly scheduled arrivals and departures, and a system akin to the containerized shipping paradigm.
Thanks for putting me in my place. It's not clearly possible for someone without a transportation engineering degree to have an opinion on how my tax dollars should be spent.
I'm sure the Gravina Island Bridge and Gravina Island Highway made sense to someone somewhere too. And if the 50 people on Gravina Island want to pay for it, I'd be more than happy to see it built. I'm also sure it was approved somehow by the Alaska DOT.
Let's put it this way, if US-20 was a toll road between Fort Dodge and Sioux City, how long would it take to pay for itself?
Building wider highways only creates a greater demand for driving and thus creates a greater demand for foreign oil. This is the old way of thinking.
We need to look at getting back to rail transportation for both freight and passenger service.
We need to look at getting back to rail transportation for both freight and passenger service.
