(1980-July 1, 2003)
Iowa 403 had more north-south distance than east-west distance, even though it served more as a horizontal connector; it's at a point where the Big Sioux River changes direction (river flow is right to left) .
Neil Bratney's pictures are June 2002; mine are June 2004 (pre- and post-decommissioning, respectively).
NORTH End: South Dakota state line, Akron, Plymouth County IA/Union County SD
Facing northwest, but heading north, on 403
Photo by Neil Bratney
Although the x03 number might make you think it's a spur of IA 3, the two routes do not connect. The 403 number was a spur to Cushing, reasonably close to move the shields to Akron in 1980.
Facing southeast, but heading east, on SD 48
This picture on the South Dakota side (the car is coming into South Dakota) shows an Iowa-like "Speed Zone Ahead" sign stuck in the Dakota soil. I didn't see any SD 48 shield in the first mile or so of the route.
Facing southeast, but heading south, on 403
Photo by Neil Bratney
This picture shows all of 403, because it ends at the intersection in the background. It's entirely within the city limits of Akron. This also makes it a unique situation because the entire jurisdiction, including the bridge, was switched to the city. Akron, however, wasn't very receptive to the idea, and has attempted to refuse the transfer. It agreed to do minimal snow removal for the winter of 2003-04, but it still doesn't want the responsibility. The pole at right is gone.
SOUTH End: Stop sign/T intersection, IA 12, Akron, Plymouth County
Facing southeast, but heading south, on 403 (June 2002)
Photo by Neil Bratney
Facing southeast, but heading south, on 403 (June 2004)
Facing southeast, but heading south, on 403
Photo by Neil Bratney
For those using SD 48, which only extends east from I-29, this sign directs travelers to 3. This route is a good cutoff for SB 29 travelers getting to 3; Akron is on the BGS on I-29. (However, 403 appears to have been non-essential enough to be decommissioned.)
Facing north on 12
Photo by Neil Bratney
Notice the lack of an "S.D." on the LGS.
Facing north on 12
Photos by Neil Bratney
Facing south on 12 (June 2002 / June 2004)
Left photo by Neil Bratney
This is an old style SD state highway sign (ca. 1970s), with the Mount Rushmore heads on top. "It also looks like the number has been changed... from 38 to 48, and that the layover "4" is fading away!" Neil says. Not sure why southbound 12 has old signs while northbound 12 has current ones (and the old one stayed when the 403 shields disappeared.
Facing northwest
Looking from 12, it is very easy to see into South Dakota. The river bridge is the brighter white just left of the railroad crossing guard. The shift indicates the original bridge was to the left of the current one.
Surrounding area information: I-29 exit 31
This sign in South Dakota, 12 miles away from IA 403, makes Akron look like a city in South Dakota. In comparison, a sign for SD 46, which becomes IA 10, says "Hawarden, IA".
Last seen: 2003
Pictures by Neil Bratney: First, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and ninth-eleventh, 6/18/02
Pictures by me: Second, fifth, eighth, twelfth, and thirteenth, 6/14/04; fourteenth, 5/13/07; graphic, 5/5/04
Page created 5/5/04; last updated 8/28/07