Interstate 380 (Iowa)

Infobox road
state=IA
route=380
type=I
maint=

---

length_mi=73.05
length_round=2
length_ref= [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table2.htm Route Log- Auxiliary Routes of the Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways - Table 2] ]
year_established=1973-1985
direction_a=South
terminus_a=Jct|state=IA|I|80|US|218|IA|27 near Iowa City
junction=jct|state=IA|US|30 in Cedar Rapids
jct|state=IA|US|20 in Black Hawk
direction_b=North
terminus_b=Jct|state=IA|US|218 in Waterloo
previous_type=IA
previous_route=376
next_type=IA
next_route=386

Interstate 380 (abbreviated "I-380") is a 73-mile spur route located in eastern Iowa. From Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 218 in rural Johnson county, it stretches north and northwest to Waterloo, serving to connect both Cedar Rapids and Waterloo—Iowa's second- and fifth-largest cities—to the Interstate Highway System.

Except for the last 1½ miles between U.S. Highway 20 and its northern terminus at Mitchell Avenue in Waterloo, I-380 runs concurrent with Iowa Highway 27 as part of the 560-mile Avenue of the Saints connecting St. Louis, Missouri with St. Paul, Minnesota.

Major cities

Bolded cities are officially-designated control cities for signs.
*Iowa City, Iowa
*Cedar Rapids, Iowa
*Waterloo, Iowa

Route description

Interstate 380 begins in Johnson County, Iowa, just west of Coralville and Iowa City when northbound U.S. 218 crosses Interstate 80 flanked by a tight, cloverleaf interchange (“tight” because each year, a few big rigs overturn in the midst of negotiating its southwest loop ramp). At this point, U.S. 218 takes a back seat as I-380 becomes the primary route for the next 71 miles on the Avenue of the Saints. As I-380 is part of the Avenue of the Saints, it is cosigned as Iowa Highway 27 .

Thirteen miles into its northward course, and shortly after crossing into Linn County, I-380 passes to the east of the Eastern Iowa Airport and enters the city of Cedar Rapids where, after the U.S. 30 interchange, it will wind through downtown and offer some ten to twelve exits (depending on how they're counted) to serve greater Cedar Rapids. I-380 crosses the Cedar River in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Just beyond Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha, the County Home Road exit 28 serves the towns of Toddville and Robins and Interstate 380 veers northwestward toward Center Point. Soon thereafter, it clips the corners of Benton and Buchanan counties before entering Black Hawk County, the last of five to be visited on the journey.

Three miles over the Black Hawk County line, northbound I-380 turns due west near mile-marker 65 as it joins westbound U.S. 20 for approximately six miles. After parting ways with U.S. 20, the Avenue of the Saints and IA 27, I-380 heads northward for its last mile-and-a-half. Just beyond mile-marker 73, Interstate 380 meets its northern terminus in Waterloo at Mitchell Avenue, where it continues as US 218 to Cedar Falls and beyond.

Exit list

References

External links

* [http://iowahighways.home.mchsi.com/highways/i-380.html Iowa Highways - Interstate 380]
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-380_ia.html Interstate 380 Iowa @ Interstate-Guide.com]