Iowa's shortest (and now secret) state highway
NORTH End: Nebraska state line, Carter Lake IA/Omaha NE, Pottawattamie County IA/Douglas County NE
Two views facing southwest, but heading south, on 165 (2002)
Photos by Neil Bratney
Highway 165 is the only Iowa highway west of the Missouri River. On March 16, 1877, the Mighty Mo decided the fastest way between two of its points was a straight line and cut across, leaving an oxbow lake (Carter Lake) and plenty of land access to Nebraska, but none to the displaced area's home state. Another case of populated land on the wrong side of the river is the St. Joseph MO airport, the land for which is now on the Kansas side.
Facing southwest, but heading south, on 165 - after reconstruction of Abbott Drive
Abbott Drive is continuous throughout the states and is an important road to Eppley Airfield, but the street is not a highway on either Nebraska side. Notice that the top picture has all the state-line trimmings: "Welcome to Iowa" and Adopt-a-Highway signs. Neil Bratney reports it's about 2700 feet (half a mile) long.
After the Second Great Decommissioning, 165 also holds the special significance of being the shortest signed state highway in Iowa - at least, it did (see below). This was the only shield left on the route in the mid-2000s after a construction project on Abbott Drive that started and ended outside of Carter Lake in Omaha.
SOUTH End: Nebraska state line, Carter Lake IA/Omaha NE, Pottawattamie County IA/Douglas County NE
Facing northeast, but heading north, on 165 (January 2002)
Photos by Neil Bratney
The entrance into Iowa on the south side was well-marked.
Facing northeast, but heading north, on/off 165 (January 2003)
A new project in 2003 shifted Abbott Drive and the beginning of 165 a few dozen feet to the northwest.
Facing northeast, but heading north, on 165 (June 2006)
No counterpart 165 shield was put up on this sign, unlike the other end. That is, unlike the other end had for a time...
Captain! We've lost the shields!
Same sign, 22 months later
Not only have both 165 shields vanished from Carter Lake, but now the city name is printed in Helvetica! This should not stand.
Until 1986 there was a second highway in Carter Lake, IA 347, which ran straight east and west on Locust Street. The two roads "intersected" in Nebraska. As seems to be usual, AAA is a little slow; this 1992 map shows not only 347, but 165 continuing into Nebraska (which it doesn't do and never has):
Pictures by Neil Bratney: First, second, and fourth, 1/15/02
Pictures by me: Third and sixth, 6/12/06; fifth, 1/19/03; seventh, 4/6/08
Page created 3/29/02; last updated 8/5/08