Iowa Highway 146
Encyclopedia
Iowa Highway 146 is a state highway in central Iowa
. It runs in a north–south orientation and is 43 miles (69.2 km) long. Iowa 146 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 63
at New Sharon
, and ends at a freeway interchange with U.S. Highway 30 at Le Grand
. While the route Iowa 146 takes has remained the same since its creation, the highway has been extended at least twice because of realignments of U.S. Route 30
near Le Grand
. The northernmost 2 miles (3.2 km) were once part of the Lincoln Highway
.
at the corner of Main Street and Market Street. U.S. Route 63 comes from the south along Main and turns east onto Market. Iowa Highway 102
, existing only within New Sharon, but formerly extending to Pella
, heads west on Market. Iowa 146 travels north on Main. Two miles (2 miles (3.2 km)) north of New Sharon, Iowa 146 crosses a Union Pacific Railroad
line and into Poweshiek County
shortly thereafter. Highway 146 heads north for 4+1/2 mi before curving west towards Searsboro
. At Searsboro, Iowa 146 crosses the UPRR line again and turns to the northwest at the eastern end of former Iowa Highway 225, which was turned over to Poweshiek County
and Jasper County
in 2003.
For two miles (2 miles (3.2 km)), Iowa 146 heads northwest; then, it turns due north towards Grinnell
. Just south of Grinnell, Highway 146 meets Interstate 80 at a diamond interchange
. Three miles north of I-80, Iowa 146, now along West Street in Grinnell, intersects U.S. Route 6, which runs along 6th Street. Eight miles (8 miles (12.9 km)) north of Grinnell, Iowa 146 enters Tama County
, but only briefly. It turns west and enters Marshall County
2+1/2 mi later, just east of Gilman
. Highway 146 turns north on Elm Street in Gilman. From Gilman, it is an 8+1/2 mi drive to Le Grand
where Iowa 146 ends at Main Street. Prior to US 30 being relocated to the north along an expressway, Main Street carried US 30.
became a part of U.S. Route 30 was straightened between Tama
and Marshalltown
.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It runs in a north–south orientation and is 43 miles (69.2 km) long. Iowa 146 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
at New Sharon
New Sharon, Iowa
New Sharon is a city in Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Sharon is located at ....
, and ends at a freeway interchange with U.S. Highway 30 at Le Grand
Le Grand, Iowa
Le Grand is a city in Marshall and Tama Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Le Grand's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.006211, -92.776497...
. While the route Iowa 146 takes has remained the same since its creation, the highway has been extended at least twice because of realignments of U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
near Le Grand
Le Grand, Iowa
Le Grand is a city in Marshall and Tama Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Le Grand's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.006211, -92.776497...
. The northernmost 2 miles (3.2 km) were once part of the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
.
Route description
Iowa Highway 146 beings in the city of New SharonNew Sharon, Iowa
New Sharon is a city in Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,301 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Sharon is located at ....
at the corner of Main Street and Market Street. U.S. Route 63 comes from the south along Main and turns east onto Market. Iowa Highway 102
Iowa Highway 102
Iowa Highway 102 is a very short state highway entirely within the city of New Sharon, Iowa. The entire route is along Market Street in New Sharon. The route begins at New Sharon's western city limit where it continues as Mahaska County Route G5T and ends at the corner of Market and Main...
, existing only within New Sharon, but formerly extending to Pella
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.- History :...
, heads west on Market. Iowa 146 travels north on Main. Two miles (2 miles (3.2 km)) north of New Sharon, Iowa 146 crosses a Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
line and into Poweshiek County
Poweshiek County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,914 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,949 housing units, of which 7,555 were occupied.-2000 census:...
shortly thereafter. Highway 146 heads north for 4+1/2 mi before curving west towards Searsboro
Searsboro, Iowa
Searsboro is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Searsboro is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. At Searsboro, Iowa 146 crosses the UPRR line again and turns to the northwest at the eastern end of former Iowa Highway 225, which was turned over to Poweshiek County
Poweshiek County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 18,914 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,949 housing units, of which 7,555 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and Jasper County
Jasper County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 36,842 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,181 housing units, of which 14,806 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 2003.
For two miles (2 miles (3.2 km)), Iowa 146 heads northwest; then, it turns due north towards Grinnell
Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,218 at the 2010 census. Grinnell was named after Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and is the home of Grinnell College.- History :...
. Just south of Grinnell, Highway 146 meets Interstate 80 at a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
. Three miles north of I-80, Iowa 146, now along West Street in Grinnell, intersects U.S. Route 6, which runs along 6th Street. Eight miles (8 miles (12.9 km)) north of Grinnell, Iowa 146 enters Tama County
Tama County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,767 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,766 housing units, of which 6,947 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, but only briefly. It turns west and enters Marshall County
Marshall County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 40,648 in the county, with a population density of . There were 16,831 housing units, of which 15,538 were occupied.-2000 census:...
2+1/2 mi later, just east of Gilman
Gilman, Iowa
Gilman is a city in Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 600 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gilman is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Highway 146 turns north on Elm Street in Gilman. From Gilman, it is an 8+1/2 mi drive to Le Grand
Le Grand, Iowa
Le Grand is a city in Marshall and Tama Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 883 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Le Grand's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.006211, -92.776497...
where Iowa 146 ends at Main Street. Prior to US 30 being relocated to the north along an expressway, Main Street carried US 30.
History
Iowa Highway 146 was designated along Primary Road No. 63. When the U.S. Highway System was created in 1926, the Iowa State Highway Commission had a policy of renumbering state highways to avoid duplicating U.S. Highway numbers; US 63, in this case. Iowa 146 has been extended northward at least twice. A 2 miles (3.2 km) section of the Lincoln HighwayLincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
became a part of U.S. Route 30 was straightened between Tama
Tama, Iowa
Tama is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. Tama is located a few miles from the Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa's only significant Native American community. Tama was located on the historic Lincoln Highway and is home to an original Lincoln Highway...
and Marshalltown
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
.