Iowa Highway 56
Route information | ||||
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Maintained by Iowa DOT | ||||
Length | 24.432 mi[1] (39.319 km) | |||
Existed | 1920[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | Iowa 150 in West Union | |||
East end | Iowa 13 south of Elkader | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Iowa | |||
Counties | ||||
Highway system | ||||
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Iowa Highway 56 (Iowa 56) is a
The 24-mile-long (39 km) highway is an original route from 1920. It originally extended from West Union to Guttenberg, but it was shortened to Elkader by 1925. Since then, both the western and eastern endpoints have shifted slightly, but the route otherwise remains the same.
Route description
Iowa Highway 56 begins at an intersection with Iowa 150 in the southern part of West Union. The route starts out heading to the east, but turns to the south as it leaves the city limits. Approximately one mile (1.6 km) south of town, it curves to the south-southeast.[3] Southeast of West Union, Iowa 56 splits the distance between the Volga River and Echo Valley state parks, each approximately two miles (3.2 km) from the highway.[4] Being a largely rural route, it passes through the rolling farmland of Fayette and Clayton counties.[3][5]
It continues to the south-southeast until it nears Elkader. There, it briefly turns to the northeast before turning southeast again along Second Street parallel to the Turkey River. The street plan of Elkader was influenced by the river, which flows from the northwest to southeast through town. Iowa 56 follows Bridge Street for one block; it heads to the southeast again along First Street.[6] The highway meanders to the south, following the river, to an intersection with Iowa 13 near where that highway crosses the Turkey River. Clayton County's Turkey River Park is located at the intersection of Iowa 13 and Iowa 56.[7]
History
When the
Primary Road No. 56's length past Elkader did not last long. By 1925, the two
Major intersections
County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fayette | West Union | 0.000 | 0.000 | Iowa 150 – West Union, Fayette | |
Clayton | Boardman Township | 24.432 | 39.319 | Iowa 13 – Strawberry Point | South of Elkader |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
References
- ^ a b 2009 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (PDF) (Report). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Commission. 1919. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Fayette County, Iowa. Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Highway and Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Clayton County, Iowa. Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Highway and Street Map (PDF) (Map). Elkader, Iowa. Iowa Department of Transportation. May 31, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "Clayton County Parks". Clayton County Conservation. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "Iowa Geographic Map Server". Iowa State University. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "Iowa Geographic Map Server". Iowa State University. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 1981. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Iowa State Highway Map (PDF) (Map). Iowa Department of Transportation. 1983. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. November 7, 2002.
- The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. August 4, 2004.