{{Short description|State highway in Iowa, United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=IA |type=IA |route=70 |map={{maplink-road|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Iowa Highway 70}}}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=Iowa 70 highlighted in red |established=1969<ref name="Muscatine">{{cite news|title=Highway 76 is renumbered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5234444/ia_76_renumbered_december_30_1969/|accessdate=May 12, 2016|work=The Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune|date=December 30, 1969|page=101|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref> |length_mi=23.954 |length_ref=<ref name=IowaDOT>{{IowaDOT|2010-09-29|year=2009}}</ref> |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{Jct|state=IA|IA|92}} at Columbus Junction |junction={{Jct|state=IA|IA|22}} overlap near Nichols |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{Jct|state=IA|US|6}} at West Liberty |counties={{flatlist| *Louisa *Muscatine }} |previous_type=US |previous_route=69 |next_type=US |next_route=71 }} '''Iowa Highway 70''' ('''Iowa 70''') is a state highway spanning {{convert|24|mi}} from north to south in eastern Iowa. It begins at Iowa Highway 92 in Columbus Junction, and ends at U.S. Highway 6 in West Liberty.
==Route description== [[File:NicholsIA SamuelNicholsHouse.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Samuel Nichols House north of Columbus Junction]] Iowa Highway 70 begins less than {{convert|1|mi}} from the confluence of the Iowa River and the Cedar River near Columbus Junction. It bypasses Columbus Junction to the north and east, then straightens out and crosses the Iowa River. As the Iowa River meanders away, the highway passes riverfront houses on the banks of the Cedar River. The Cedar also meanders away and Iowa 70 enters Conesville.<ref name="current DOT map">{{cite map|publisher=Iowa Department of Transportation|title=Transportation Map|url=http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/pdf/current/stmapmain.pdf|year=2010|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> It continues north towards Nichols, following an abandoned Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway line.<ref name="1898 Atlas">{{cite map|publisher=Rand, McNally & Co|title=General Atlas of the World|year=1898|page=47}}</ref> At Nichols, Iowa 70 intersects Iowa Highway 22 and the two highways overlap for {{convert|3|mi}}. From the split with Iowa 22, Iowa 70 heads north towards West Liberty. Iowa 70 ends at an intersection with U.S. Highway 6 in West Liberty.<ref name=IowaDOT />
==History== Iowa Highway 70 was created in 1969. It replaced the former Iowa Highway 76 as that number was reassigned to a highway in northeastern Iowa.<ref name=DOT1970>{{cite map|publisher=Iowa State Highway Commission|url=http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/historical/pdf/1970_front.pdf|title=Iowa State Highway Map|year=1970|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> The original route ran from Columbus City to West Liberty. In the mid-1990s, a short bypass was built around Columbus Junction.<ref name=DOT1996>{{cite map|publisher=Iowa Department of Transportation|url=http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/historical/pdf/1996_front.pdf|title=Iowa State Highway Map|year=1996|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref> Iowa 70 traffic was rerouted onto the bypass where it ends today. The old segment stayed remained in the primary highway system until July 1, 2003, when it was turned over to Louisa County.<ref name=DOT2004>{{cite map|publisher=Iowa Department of Transportation|url=http://www.iowadotmaps.com/msp/historical/pdf/2004_front.pdf|title=Iowa State Highway Map|year=2004|accessdate=September 29, 2010}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{Jcttop|length_ref=<ref name="Muscatine" />}} {{IAint |county=Louisa |location=Columbus Junction |mile=0.000 |road={{jct|state=IA|IA|92|name1=Oak Street|city1=Grandview|city2=Ainsworth}} }} {{IAint |county=Muscatine |cspan=3 |location=Nichols |type=concur |mile=14.805 |road={{Jct|state=IA|IA|22|dir1=west|name1=Ijem Avenue|city1=Riverside}} }} {{IAint |township=Pike |ctdab=Muscatine |type=concur |mile=17.692 |road={{Jct|state=IA|IA|22|dir1=east|city1=Muscatine}} }} {{IAint |location=West Liberty |mile=23.954 |road={{Jct|state=IA|US|6|dir1=west|name1=Columbus Street|US|6|dir2=east|name2=3rd Street|noshield2=6|city1=Atalissa|city2=Iowa City}} }} {{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Attached KML}} *[http://www.iowahighwayends.net/ends/ia70.html End of Iowa 70] at Iowa Highway Ends
070 Category:Transportation in Louisa County, Iowa Category:Transportation in Muscatine County, Iowa