Iowa Highway 404 (1960–2003)
Iowa Highway 404 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Iowa DOT | ||||
| Length | 1.391 mi[1] (2.239 km) | |||
| Existed | 1960–2003 | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  US 61 near Montrose | |||
| East end | First Street in Montrose | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Iowa | |||
| County | Lee | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Iowa Highway 404 (Iowa 404) is a state highway that is not found in Lee County any longer. It was a spur route from U.S. Highway 61 (US 61) that ran into Montrose. It was created in 1960 when US 61 was relocated onto a new highway that bypassed Montrose to the northwest. It was removed from the primary highway system of Iowa on July 1, 2003, along with 700 miles (1,100 km) of roadway that primarily served local traffic. It was replaced by County Road J72 outside of the Montrose city limits.
Route description
Iowa 404 began at an intersection with US 61 roughly midway between Keokuk and Fort Madison. The highway curved to the north-northeast through farmland within the Mississippi River alluvial plain. At the city limits of Montrose, there was an intersection with Grand Avenue, which headed south, and Iowa 404 curved more to the northeast. Now on Main Street, the farmland gave way to residences the further east the highway traveled. The highway ended at the intersection with First Street, several yards from the banks of the Mississippi River and within sight of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple across the river.[2]
History
Iowa State Highway Commission engineers proposed relocating US 61 to the west and away from the river between Montrose and Fort Madison in April 1956. Local leaders countered with a proposal to utilize and upgrade the present highway by bypassing Montrose slightly and reworking a series of curves outside of Fort Madison. The commission favored the western route because it meant only building one railroad crossing while improving the old route would require two crossings. The western route would also require the state to purchase nine miles (14 km) of right-of-way through farmland, which the delegation from Lee County strongly opposed. The commission assured the Lee County residents that it would take their concerns into account.[3] When the commission held hearings regarding the relocated highway in October 1956, the western route had been scrapped and the alternative proposed by the Lee County delegation was the preferred route.[4] Paving work between Montrose and Fort Madison was scheduled for 1959.[5] Rubble from the old highway was taken to Montrose and used to construct a harbor on the Mississippi River.[6] By the end of September 1960, the new road was ready to go. The contractor working on the project reported that only finishing touches needed to be done.[7] After the bypass opened, the state highway commissioned retained parts of the former US 61 in the primary highway system. South of Montrose, it became Iowa 404;[8] to the north it became the unsigned Iowa 998.[9]
In 2002, more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of low-traffic state highways, including Iowa 404, were identified by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) because they primarily served local traffic. Typically, when Iowa DOT wished to transfer a road to a county or locality, both parties had to agree to terms and the DOT would have to either improve the road or give money to the other party to maintain the road.[10] However, with the significant mileage the DOT wished to turn over, the Iowa General Assembly passed a law which granted the DOT a one-time exemption from the transfer rules effective July 1, 2003.[11] Iowa 404 was replaced by CR J72 outside of Montrose.
Major intersections
The entire route was in Lee County.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose Township | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 61 – Keokuk, Fort Madison | ||
| Montrose | 0.521 | 0.838 | Grand Avenue | Montrose city limits | |
| 1.391 | 2.239 |  Great River Road (1st Street) | |||
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ a b 2002 Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (PDF) (Report). Iowa Department of Transportation. January 1, 2002. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ Google (July 8, 2024). "Iowa Highway 404" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Relocation of Highway 61 Off River Protested by Lee Group". Daily Gate City. Keokuk, Iowa. April 4, 1956. p. 19. Retrieved February 10, 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ "Hearing Held on Re-Locating No. 61". Daily Gate City. Keokuk, Iowa. October 14, 1956. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ "Wapello Street Viaduct Start on 1959 Iowa Highway Program". Ottumwa Daily Courier. February 25, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ "Inspect Harbor Site". Evening Democrat (Photo). Fort Madison, Iowa. May 21, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ Ott, Jim (September 25, 1960). "Relocated Highway 61 About Ready for Travel". The Burlington Hawk Eye. p. 24. Retrieved May 1, 2018 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
- ^ "Primary Route Descriptions–Iowa 404". Iowadot.gov. Iowa Department of Transportation. September 4, 1957. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Primary Route Descriptions–Iowa 998". Iowadot.gov. Iowa Department of Transportation. January 18, 1961. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Reeder, Greg; Stevens, Larry; Fichtner, Royce; Stoner, Tom; Wandro, Mark; Volmer, Neil (April 1, 2003). "Evaluation of the State Highway System and Road Use Tax Fund" (PDF). State of Iowa. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
- ^ "Senate File 451". Iowa General Assembly. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
External links
- "End of Iowa 404". www.iowahighwayends.net.