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| Iowa Highway 28 | |
|---|---|
| State | Iowa |
| Route | 28 |
| Length mi | 8.300 |
| Established | 1926 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Ankeny |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Iowa 163 at Des Moines River |
| Counties | Polk County |
Iowa Highway 28 is a state-maintained route in central Iowa serving suburban and urban areas north of Des Moines. The route connects Ankeny with major corridors near the Des Moines River and provides access to commercial zones, residential areas, and regional arterials. It functions as a local connector between Interstate 35, US 69, and Iowa 163 while intersecting municipal streets serving employment centers and institutions.
The corridor begins near the intersection with Interstate 35 and proceeds north through Ankeny suburbs adjacent to Saylor Township, passing neighborhoods, shopping centers, and parks near Iowa State University outreach facilities and commuter routes toward Des Moines International Airport. The highway crosses municipal streets that link to US 69 and provides access to employment areas connected with Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo, and distribution facilities serving Wal-Mart. Continuing northward, the alignment approaches industrial sites and utility corridors near freight rail lines operated by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway. The route then approaches the Des Moines River corridor and terminates near the eastern approaches to Iowa 163, which connects travelers to Ottumwa and Iowa City to the southeast and the Iowa State Capitol area in Des Moines to the southwest.
Originally designated in the 1920s during the statewide numbering plan that included routes such as US 30, US 6, and Iowa 1, the alignment served early automobile traffic between Des Moines and outlying communities like Ankeny. During the mid-20th century, improvements mirrored statewide investments associated with projects driven by policymakers in the Iowa Department of Transportation and federal aid programs like those influenced by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The corridor saw reconstruction and realignment phases concurrent with expansions of Interstate 35 and the development of U.S. Route 69 interchanges, reflecting suburbanization trends linked to employers such as John Deere, Tyson Foods, and regional headquarters for Principal Financial Group. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, upgrades accommodated increased commuter volumes from residential growth near Ames and northern Polk County as reflected in planning documents from the Mid-Iowa Regional Planning Commission and municipal plans for Ankeny.
The route intersects key arterials and interstates that shape regional travel patterns, including connectors to I-35, US 69, and termini feeding into Iowa 163. Other notable crossings include municipal collectors providing access to areas served by transit agencies such as Des Moines Area Regional Transit and freight connections near Union Pacific Railroad yards. The highway's junctions align with corridors leading toward major destinations like Jordan Creek Town Center, Merle Hay Mall, Des Moines International Airport, Ankeny Centennial High School, and civic facilities in Ankeny and Des Moines.
Traffic counts along the corridor reflect commuter flows between Ankeny suburbs and employment centers in Des Moines, with peak-hour patterns similar to those observed on corridors serving Ames commuters and workers commuting to facilities of firms like Wells Fargo, Principal Financial Group, and regional hospitals such as Mercy Medical Center. Freight movements utilize nearby rail terminals operated by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad while truck traffic serves distribution centers for retailers including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Traffic planning references regional models produced by entities such as the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Mid-Iowa Regional Planning Commission.
Planned improvements have been proposed in coordination with Polk County and the Iowa Department of Transportation to address congestion and safety concerns similar to projects on corridors intersecting Interstate 35 and U.S. Route 69. Proposals include capacity upgrades, intersection reconfigurations, bicycle and pedestrian enhancements akin to those implemented in Des Moines River Trail projects, and stormwater management measures drawing from best practices used in Iowa Flood Mitigation Program planning. Funding discussions reference federal programs such as those enabled by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and partnerships with regional entities like the Mid-Iowa Regional Planning Commission and municipal governments of Ankeny and Des Moines.
Category:State highways in Iowa