NORTH Iowa line (1929-Dec. 15, 1961): Military Road bridge, Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Union County SD
Facing south on 77, entering Iowa
By its "Military Road" name, you can tell that this was a very early street in the area's history. The earliest connection to South Dakota (originally IA 23, and then IA 141 in the late '20s) used more of Military Road through the west half of Sioux City until, in 1929, it was realigned to turn south at Riverside Boulevard and then east on 4th Street (via a winding way up some hills). This change may or may not have been concurrent with US 77's entry into Iowa. Today, Military Road continues a little further and then runs into IA 12; the traffic pattern from Military Road to southbound Riverside Boulevard still exists.
NORTH Iowa line (Dec. 15, 1961-1982): Big Sioux River bridge (with I-29), Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Union County SD
Facing west, but heading north, on 29
The segment of I-29 between what is now IA 12 and the east Business US 20 exit is the oldest segment of Iowa's interstate highway system outside of central Iowa, and part (probably) pre-dates the interstate signage. The first interstate interchange was opened on December 15, 1957, at the bridge into Nebraska. For about a year, this carried US 77 between Hamilton Boulevard and the bridge, though it might not have been signed as I-29 at the time. Then, on October 1, 1958, the segment between 12 and 20 opened as an official part of I-29. For three years, traffic then had to exit and travel north to the Military Road bridge. The short connection between IA 12 and the Big Sioux waited until South Dakota was done, but four months after it opened the span you see here collapsed and had to be rebuilt. More pictures in the area can be seen on the IA 12 page.
SOUTH Iowa line (1929-Jan. 15, 1981): Combination Bridge (with US 20), Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Dakota County NE
The third connection between Iowa and Nebraska, after a railroad bridge and pontoon bridge, the Combination Bridge opened on January 21, 1896. It had a span that could pivot to let river traffic through (the prominent one below). It was a toll bridge until February 8, 1951.
Facing north, leaving Nebraska
The Library of Congress photographers got to the Combination Bridge soon before its 85 years of service were up. Think about that: A bridge built 30 years after the Civil War ended would bring traffic right to an interstate highway for more than 20 years.
Facing south
Interstate 29 is running across the bottom of this picture. The new bridge is coming across from Nebraska on the right. About nine months after these photos were taken, the new bridge opened. In the winter and spring of 1981, the Combination Bridge would be demolished to finish a three-year-long project that turned an old bridge and "tight cloverleaf" interchange into a new bridge and "Iowa's Most Stupid Intersection." (Work began May 15, 1979, when the west-side ramps were closed. The east ramps were built after the old bridge came down.)
NORTH End (since 1982): I-29 exit 148, Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Dakota County NE
Facing north on 77
In 1982, the US highway with the southernmost extent in the United States - all the way to Brownsville TX - was brought to a halt just across the Missouri River at I-29. Though US 77 has never been very long in Iowa, its north end is now here. One side effect of the truncation was that Sioux Falls no longer had a US route; US 16 had been pulled back to Rapid City a few years earlier.
For pictures of the interchange, along with the new bridge, see the US 77 North page.
SOUTH Iowa line (Jan. 15, 1981-May 6, 1982; May 1983-present): Veterans Memorial Bridge, Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Dakota County NE
Facing south on 77
Jason Hancock found out that a few months after the new bridge originally opened, cracks were discovered in the bridge's girder and the bridge was closed for a year. US 77 traffic, then, had to come into Iowa farther south:
[Temporary] SOUTH Iowa line (1982): Missouri River bridge (with I-129 and US 20), Sioux City, Woodbury County IA/Dakota County NE
The closed-bridge-related reroute of US 77 would have given the route its greatest total extent in Iowa - approximately 7 miles - until 77 was truncated. Signage in those few months in 1982, until whatever month 77 was truncated, is unknown.
For modern signage of the area, see the I-129 page (east end).
Pictures by me: First, second, fifth, and sixth, 6/12/05
Third and fourth pictures by Library of Congress: May 1980
Page created 7/24/06