NORTH End of MN 86: Stop sign, MN 60, near Wilder MN, Jackson County MN
Facing north on 86 (9/8/06)
Highway 60 has been upgraded to four lanes from I-90 at Worthington to US 71 at Windom.
Facing north on 86 (9/8/06)
NORTH End: Minnesota state line, Dickinson County IA/Jackson County MN
Facing south on 86
Photo by Michael Ehret (November 2013)
Prior to the winter of 1980-81, the paved road between IA 9 and the Minnesota state line was a county road. Then, the state took it over and gave a new number, 86, to the road and former IA 32 on the west side of Okoboji. MN 86 had existed north of the state line since 1934.
However, it would be two decades until there were major changes made to the road. IA 86 was closed during much of 2013 in order to rebuild the road, add shoulders, and angle the road to the state line rather than have the sharp curves along the section lines as seen below. Note the black-on-white sign at the bottom, which was corrected shortly thereafter.
Facing south on 86
Photo by Michael Ehret (November 2013)
There are generally not mileage signs on Iowa highways at state lines, save for those leaving a town, but there is one on new 86. Notably, besides being in Clearview, this sign is metal and has a thickness not seen in Iowa except on interstate and four-lane signs. However, this sturdier type of sign has begun appearing more often on two-lane roads since the start of the decade.
Facing north on 86
Photo by Michael Ehret (November 2013)
Michael writes, "The No Passing Zone signs are all installed with two posts, à la Minnesota."
Facing south on 86 (6/5/14)
The green Dickinson County sign has a sticker dated December 2013, after Ehret's pictures.
Facing south on 86 (6/5/14)
The red car is on the approach from the former IA 86. If you turned right and headed north, you would see the area below.
Old NORTH End: Minnesota state line, Dickinson County IA/Jackson County MN
Facing north on 86 (9/8/06)
This picture shows the original, no-shoulder design of the road.
Facing north on 86 (7/11/02)
Photo by Kurt Berge
Same sign, four years later (9/8/06)
Turning around, 86 follows the line for just a bit (below).
Facing west, but heading south, on IA/MN 86 (7/11/02)
Photo by Kurt Berge
The section lines of Iowa and Minnesota do not match, so 86 straddles (straddled) the state line for about 1/4 mile. The car, currently in Minnesota, will enter Iowa when it turns south.
Facing south on 86 (9/8/06)
Surrounding area information: Junction IA 9
This is the southernmost mention of I-90 in the state of Iowa. In fact, it's the only one not on the state line. (6/5/14)
SOUTH End: Stoplight, US 71, Milford, Dickinson County
Facing east, but heading south, on 86 (7/11/02)
Photo by Kurt Berge
Kurt writes, "Visible in the background is the traffic signal at the junction with US 71. Also visible on the right are several features of Boji Bay water park, a popular summer destination in the Iowa Great Lakes."
Facing east, but heading south, on 86 (6/15/04)
The LGS has been moved closer to the intersection since Kurt's picture, and also put on metal poles, which are also popping up across the state. Because 86 angles slightly southeast here, this is inside the city limits of Milford.
Facing east, but heading south, on 86 (9/29/15)
I don't know what prompted the moving of the "End" sign between 2002 and 2004, or putting the "End" on the bottom.
Facing north on 71 (6/15/04)
Facing north on 71 (6/15/04)
Facing north on 71 (9/29/15)
Facing north on 71 (6/15/04 and 9/29/15)
Facing south on 71
Facing south on 71 (7/11/02)
Photo by Kurt Berge
Facing south on 71, slightly different view (9/29/15)
Facing west on frontage road (6/15/04)
IA 86 was a possible candidate for decommissioning in 2003 because it was only in one county, according to the Jan. 10, 2003, Spencer Daily Reporter. However, the Spencer City Council and Clay County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions urging the state to keep 86 on the books as the most direct route to I-90 - and not only that, upgrade 86 to four lanes. (I-90 is more than three times as close to Spencer than I-80 is.) The lobbying must have worked, because 86 is still around today, and the road north of IA 9 was upgraded to good state highway quality.
Page created 5/3/04; last updated 12/13/16