(162: March 4, 1930-1981)
(322: 1981-July 1, 2003)
NORTH End of 322/NORTH End of 162: Stop sign/T intersection, IA 92, Madison County
Facing north on 322 (2004)
Photo by Neil Bratney
Neil says the large home on 92 is part of the Rose Hill egg farm complex.
Facing north on 322 (2004)
Facing east on 92 (MM 103) (2002)
Photo by Neil Bratney
Facing east on 92 (2004)
Facing west on 92 (2004)
Facing west on 92 (2004)
Photo by Jason Hancock
SOUTH End of 322/SOUTH End of 162: Pammel State Park, Madison County
Facing south on 322
Photo by Neil Bratney
Unlike some (in fact, many) state park highways, there is an "End" sign here, hiding in the background.
Closeup of signage in background of above picture
Photo by Neil Bratney
The bridge ahead is over the Middle River.
Facing north on 322
Photo by Jason Hancock
What happened to Iowa 162? (1981, 2003 maps)
Good question. In the 1981 map (below left), the "dustless" road to Pammel State Park was marked as 162. At some point during the year, without any provocation or change in the route with the exception of it being paved, its number was changed. Now, there was no problem with duplicate numbers, and in fact the original 322 had been dead for over 20 years. This is, as far as I know, the only instance of a spontaneous unprovoked number change (at least since the Great Renumbering, if you think that falls in this category). An hour of scrolling through microfilm of the Winterset Madisonian, October 1980 to August 1982, yielded absolutely nothing on this.
The 162 designation was original, one of six numbers assigned to roads that went to state parks in March 1930. In the preceding 3½ years, only five additional numbers had been assigned in the Iowa primary road system. Twelve months after 162 was assigned, Iowa's numbers went all the way up to 235.
Pictures by Neil Bratney: First, third, eighth, and ninth, 5/11/02
Pictures by Jason Hancock: Seventh and tenth, 5/21/02
Pictures by me: Second, fourth, fifth, and sixth, 8/6/04
Page created 9/3/02; last updated 6/18/07
