Iowa Highway 32
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Iowa Highway 32 is a state highway maintained by the state of Iowa. Also known as the Northwest Arterial, the highway provides a bypass route around Dubuque, Iowa, connecting U.S. Highway 20 (Dodge Street) at the western border of Dubuque with U.S. Highway 52 / Iowa Highway 3 north of the city.
[edit] Background
The highway was begun as the Northwest Arterial in the 1980s in response to the continuing westward expansion of Dubuque. The highway was planned from the start as a four lane bypass, but in the beginning only two lanes were completed. The remaining two lanes were graded, but left unfinished for several years. Originally, the highway stretched from Dodge Street north to John F. Kennedy Road, where it ended.
Northwest Arterial was turned over to the state in September of 1995, who then designated the highway as Iowa Highway 32. The remaining two lanes on the original section of the road were completed by 1997. The highway was then expanded from John F. Kennedy Road to U.S. 52 / Iowa 3, which finally gave the area a northern bypass around the city of Dubuque, this expansion was completed in September of 2002.
When originally built, the highway was mostly surrounded by farmland. Today there are numerous homes in the surrounding areas. A great deal of commercial expansion has also taken place along the Northwest Arterial, not only for retail but for other businesses as well.
This is the third highway to be designated as Iowa Highway 32. The original Highway 32 was in Cherokee County, Iowa, extending from Iowa Highway 5 to Cleghorn, Iowa, and was in existence from 1920 to 1926. A route from Iowa Highway 9 near Spirit Lake, Iowa to U.S. Highway 71 in Milford, Iowa served as the second Iowa Highway 32 from 1934 to 1980.
[edit] Future Plans
Currently, a number of leaders in city government, the business community, and the Dubuque County, Iowa government are working to expand Iowa Highway 32 to bypass the city to the south, and connect it with U.S. Highways 61 and 151. A 6.1 mile route has been proposed, and was estimated to cost approximately $63 million dollars. In 2005 Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle announced that some Federal money had been secured for this expansion project that would cover a portion of the costs.
[edit] External links
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Iowa Highway 32 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A 5.1 mile (8.2 km), north-south highway in eastern Iowa. | |||
| Cities and towns: Dubuque, Iowa, Asbury, Iowa | |||
<  IA 31 |
Iowa State Highways | IA 36 Image:CircleSign36.png > | |
