Interstate 235 (Iowa)

Infobox road
state=IA
route=235
type=I

---

maint=IADOT
length_mi=13.78
length_round=2
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table2.cfm|title=Route Log and Finder List - Interstate System - Table 2|publisher=Federal Highway Administration|date=2006-10-31|accessdate=2007-06-23]
year_established=First segment opened 14 December 1961; completely opened 30 October 1968 [Oglesby, Scott. [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix35.html#235ok 3-digit Interstates from I-35] . "Kurumi." URL accessed 23 February 2005.]
direction_a=West
direction_b=East
terminus_a=jct|state=IA|I|35|I|80 in West Des Moines
junction=jct|state=IA|US|69 in Des Moines
jct|state=IA|US|6 in Des Moines
terminus_b=jct|state=IA|I|35|I|80 in Ankeny
browse=
previous_type=IA
previous_route=224
next_type=US
next_route=275

Interstate 235 (abbreviated I-235) in Iowa, also known as the MacVicar Freeway, is a 13.8 mile-long freeway through the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is a spur route of Interstate 35. At both its western and its northern terminus, I-235 connects with the junction of Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 (I-235 travels in an east-west direction before turning north-south east of downtown Des Moines), and it passes through the cities of West Des Moines, Windsor Heights and Des Moines. It is the only interstate highway that travels through downtown Des Moines; both Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 (which are co-designated through the northern Des Moines metropolitan area) do not pass through the city proper.

I-235 is locally known as the MacVicar Freeway, in honor of two former mayors of Des Moines: John MacVicar Sr. (1896-1900, 1916-1918, 1928) and John MacVicar Jr. (1942-1948); the latter also served as the city's street commissioner in the 1930s. The name was adopted by the Des Moines city council in October 1963. [Des Moines Register article, "Super Road Slices Through City," November 24, 1993]

Interstate 235 in Iowa officially finished a major reconstruction in October 2007, though small construction projects are on-going, and the ends are still being reconstructed, particularly at the East Mixmaster.

Exit list

The entire route is in Polk County.

References

External links

* [http://www.i235.com I-235 construction site]
* [http://www.iowahighways.org/highways/i-235.html I-235 history]
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-235_ia.html I-235 terminus photo gallery]