NORTH End: I-35 exit 194, Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County
Facing south on 35
Photo by Jason Hancock
Since 1999, Exit 194 has been a hodgepodge of routes: interstate, interstate business loop, US route, US business loop, and state route. The addition of IA 27 only cluttered things up more. As a consequence, the only signage of Business Loop I-35 at its north end are BGSs on southbound I-35. For additional pictures of this intersection, see the west end of IA 122.
Along the route
Facing west on 18
Elsewhere along its route, the loop is clearly signed. Here it leaves US 18 to use the northernmost part of old IA 107.
Facing east on 18, after decommissioning of 107
Facing east on 18
There are four sets like this along 18, plus one standalone 18 shield (whoops), but signage disappears at the interchange.
Facing east on Business Loop 35
The business loop leaves old 107 at the intersection of 4th Ave. and 18th St., using old IA 106 to go east. Since 1987, 107 has not been at this intersection.
SOUTH End: I-35 exit 193, Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County
Facing east on Business Loop 35 / Closeup
Unlike the business loop in Ames, this one does not have signs that send it onto the interstate. Instead, it just ends; in fact, the closest shield is 4/10 mile west of the interchange. The one-piece sign is pretty rare in Iowa; US 30 and 34 both at I-29 have a few like it.
Facing west on 4th Avenue South
This road, which used to be IA 106 and I-35's north end in Iowa from 1971-75, becomes Business Loop 35 on the other side of the bridge. Paralleling the road between southwest Mason City and former 107 is the Trolley Trail, so named most likely because it follows the path of an old interurban trolley line.
Facing south on 35
Technically, B35 is not at this intersection. It skirts the south side of Clear Lake, turns north two miles east of where IA 107 used to end, then turns east two miles after that, where it picks up old IA 106. This may be the only case where a county road is signed and it's not here. The south BGS was missing the exit tab, as you can see - and it still is.
Facing north on 35
Facing north on 35
Facing north on 35 (shot from SB lanes)
Facing north on 35 offramp
First picture by Jason Hancock: 9/2/00
Pictures by me: Second, fourth-sixth, ninth, and thirteenth, 3/22/03; third, 7/19/05; seventh, eighth, tenth-twelfth, and fourteenth, 5/28/06
Page created 7/7/03; last updated 7/12/06
