View source for Interstate 29

{{Short description|Interstate Highway from Kansas City to Canada}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=I
|route=29
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=240|type=line|from=Interstate 29.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=I-29 highlighted in red
|established=
|length_mi=750.58
|length_ref=<ref name=fhwa>{{cite web |last=Starks |first=Edward |date=January 27, 2022 |title=Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm |access-date=March 10, 2023 |work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref>
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|country=USA|I|35|I|70|US|24|US|40|US|71}} in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City, MO]]
|junction={{plainlist|<!-- Major junctions only; Only 5-8 most major intersections and cities belong here; please read [[WP:USRD/STDS]] for more info -->
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|35}} in Kansas City, MO
*{{Jct|state=MO|I|635}} in Kansas City, MO
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|435}} from [[Ferrelview, Missouri|Ferrelview, MO]] to [[Platte City, Missouri|Platte City, MO]]
*{{Jct|state=MO|I|229}} in [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph, MO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|80}} in [[Council Bluffs, Iowa|Council Bluffs, IA]]
*{{Jct|state=IA|I|680}} near [[Crescent, Iowa|Crescent, IA]]
*{{Jct|state=IA|I|880}} near [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley, IA]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|90}} near [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls, SD]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|94|US|52}} in [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo, ND]]
}}
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|province=MB|PTH|75}} at the [[Pembina–Emerson Border Crossing]] near [[Pembina, North Dakota|Pembina, ND]]
|states=[[Missouri]], [[Iowa]], [[South Dakota]], [[North Dakota]]
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;29''' ('''I-29''') is an [[Interstate Highway]] in the [[Midwestern United States]]. I-29 runs from [[Kansas City, Missouri]], at a junction with [[Interstate 35|I-35]] and [[Interstate 70|I-70]], to the Canada–US border near [[Pembina, North Dakota]], where it connects with [[Manitoba Highway 75|Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highway&nbsp;75]] (PTH&nbsp;75), which continues on to [[Winnipeg]].<ref name="Google">{{cite web|publisher=[[Google Maps]]|url=http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14065091890558145469,39.107041,-94.569071%3B11201046276462552396,49.000265,-97.237218&saddr=I-35+N%2FUS-71+N+%4039.107041,+-94.569071&daddr=49.000408,-97.237244&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=49.000478,-97.233703&sspn=0.006363,0.01442&ie=UTF8&ll=45.058001,-95.888672&spn=14.031063,29.53125&z=5|title=Overview Map of I-29|access-date=2008-02-15|archive-date=2023-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603072544/https://www.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=14065091890558145469,39.107041,-94.569071;11201046276462552396,49.000265,-97.237218&saddr=I-35+N/US-71+N+@39.107041,+-94.569071&daddr=49.000408,-97.237244&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=16&sll=49.000478,-97.233703&sspn=0.006363,0.01442&ie=UTF8&ll=45.058001,-95.888672&spn=14.031063,29.53125&z=5|url-status=live}}</ref> The road follows the course of three major rivers, all of which form the borders of US states. The southern portion of I-29 closely parallels the [[Missouri River]] from Kansas City northward to [[Sioux City, Iowa]], where it crosses and then parallels the [[Big Sioux River]]. For the northern third of the highway, it closely follows the [[Red River of the North]]. The major cities that I-29 connects to includes (from south to north) [[Council Bluffs, Iowa]]; [[Sioux City, Iowa]]; [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]]; [[Fargo, North Dakota]]; and [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]. I-29 also serves as a road connection between the four largest public universities in [[the Dakotas]]: the [[University of North Dakota]], [[North Dakota State University]], the [[University of South Dakota]], and [[South Dakota State University]].

[[Image:I29SouthernTerminus2.jpg|thumb|right|The I-29 "END" shield at its southern terminus in Kansas City.]]

==Route description==
{{lengths table}}
|-align=right
|align=center|[[Interstate 29 in Missouri|MO]]
|128.71
|207.14
|-align=right
|align=center|[[Interstate 29 in Iowa|IA]]
|151.83
|244.35
|-align=right
|align=center|[[Interstate 29 in South Dakota|SD]]
|252.50
|406.36
|-align=right
|align=center|[[Interstate 29 in North Dakota|ND]]
|217.54
|350.10
|-align=right
|align=center|Total
|750.58
|1,207.94
|}

===Missouri===
{{main|Interstate 29 in Missouri}}
Near its southern terminus, I-29 is concurrent with I-35 and [[U.S. Route 71 in Missouri|U.S. Route&nbsp;71]] (US&nbsp;71). The Interstate diverts from US&nbsp;71 just north of St. Joseph and follows a sparsely populated corridor along the [[Missouri River]] to Council Bluffs. During the design phase there was an alternative sending the route further along US&nbsp;71 through the bigger towns of [[Maryville, Missouri]], and [[Clarinda, Iowa]]. During the [[Great Flood of 1993]], the Missouri River flooded this section and traffic was rerouted to US&nbsp;71 through Maryville and Clarinda. I-29 was closed again for about two months during the [[2011 Missouri River Flood]].

Almost all of I-29 in Missouri is in an area called the [[Platte Purchase]] that was not originally part of Missouri when it entered the Union.

===Iowa===
[[File:Loess hills.jpg|thumb|right|The Loess Hills flank I-29 to the east in Iowa|alt=Steep hills loom over a cornfield.]]
{{main|Interstate 29 in Iowa}}
I-29 begins in Iowa near [[Hamburg, Iowa|Hamburg]]. It goes northwest to an interchange with [[Iowa Highway 2]] (Iowa&nbsp;2), then goes north until [[Council Bluffs, Iowa|Council Bluffs]]. It appears to briefly runs concurrent with [[Interstate 80 in Iowa|I-80]], but I-29 actually runs outside I-80 until the two separate less than {{Convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} east of [[Omaha, Nebraska]], to follow the Missouri River north, winding its way along the western and northern edges of Council Bluffs. North of Council Bluffs, I-29 intersects [[Interstate 680 (Nebraska–Iowa)|I-680]] at exit&nbsp;61. At exit&nbsp;71, [[Interstate 880 (Iowa)|I-880]] begins, while I-29 continues on a northwesterly path toward [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]]. At Sioux City, [[Interstate 129|I-129]] spurs off of I-29 to go west toward [[South Sioux City, Nebraska]]. After continuing toward downtown Sioux City on a northerly route, I-29 turns west and enters South Dakota.

All of I-29 through Iowa is part of the [[Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail|Lewis and Clark Trail]].

===South Dakota===
{{main|Interstate 29 in South Dakota}}
I-29 enters South Dakota at [[North Sioux City, South Dakota|North Sioux City]] by crossing over the [[Big Sioux River]]. It runs northwest until its interchange with [[South Dakota Highway 50|Highway&nbsp;50]] (SD&nbsp;50) near [[Vermillion, South Dakota|Vermillion]], where it turns north. The highway alignment is due north until just before [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls]]. In the Sioux Falls area, I-29 serves the western part of Sioux Falls while [[Interstate 229 (South Dakota)|I-229]] spurs off and serves eastern Sioux Falls. In northwestern Sioux Falls, I-29 meets [[Interstate 90 in South Dakota|I-90]]. After that, it continues north past [[Brookings, South Dakota|Brookings]] and an intersection with [[U.S. Route 14 in South Dakota|US&nbsp;14]]. At the intersection with [[South Dakota Highway 28|SD&nbsp;28]], I-29 turns northwest toward [[Watertown, South Dakota|Watertown]]. After Watertown, the highway continues north and passes an intersection with [[U.S. Route 12 in South Dakota|US&nbsp;12]] before continuing into [[North Dakota]].

===North Dakota===
{{main|Interstate 29 in North Dakota}}
I-29 enters North Dakota from the south near [[Hankinson, North Dakota|Hankinson]]. At Fargo, it meets [[Interstate 94 in North Dakota|I-94]]/[[U.S. Route 52 in North Dakota|US&nbsp;52]] and continues north along the [[Red River of the North|Red River]] toward [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]]. At its northern terminus, I-29 enters [[Canada]] and becomes [[Manitoba Highway 75|PTH&nbsp;75]] in [[Manitoba]], which leads to [[Winnipeg]].

==History==
{{Infobox road small
|header_type=former
|state=ND
|route=31
|type=I 1957
|location=[[Fargo, North Dakota]], to [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]]
|length_mi=
|length_ref=
|established=1957
|deleted=1958
}}

===Interstate 31===
The portion from [[Fargo, North Dakota]], to the Canada–US border was originally considered for designation as '''Interstate&nbsp;31''' ('''I-31''') in 1957 for present-day I-29.<ref name=plan1>[[:File:Interstate Highway plan August 14, 1957.jpg|Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways]], August 14, 1957</ref> No freeway was initially planned south of Fargo. However, it was subsequently decided in 1958 to connect I-29 and I-31 between Sioux Falls and Fargo. The entire freeway was then built and numbered as I-29.<ref name=plan2>[[:Image:Interstate Highway plan June 27, 1958.jpg|Official Route Numbering for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways]], June 27, 1958</ref>

===Interstate 49===
{{main|Interstate 49}}

Residents of Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana began campaigning in the 1960s to extend I-29 via the US&nbsp;71 corridor from Kansas City, Missouri, to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite news |date=September 1, 1965 |title=Rival Highway Groups Study Compromise |page=20A |work=[[The Northwest Arkansas Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90009503/rival-highway-groups-study-compromise/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=December 4, 2021 |archive-date=December 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204104555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90009503/rival-highway-groups-study-compromise/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The campaign would create a limited access highway from New Orleans to Canada and on to [[Winnipeg]].{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} That extension came to be designated as [[Interstate 49|I-49]], which was not part of the 1957 master plan.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} It was assigned a separate number instead of I-29 to conform with the numbering rules for Interstate Highways (increasing from west to east for north–south routes), as it would lie east of [[Interstate 35|I-35]] and west of [[Interstate 55|I-55]].<ref>{{cite web |year=2012 |title=Interstate 49: Origin, Planning, Construction |url=https://www.modot.org/sites/default/files/documents/History%20-%20Press%20Kit.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.modot.org/sites/default/files/documents/History%20-%20Press%20Kit.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |publisher=Missouri Department of Transportation |accessdate=December 4, 2021}}</ref> When I-49 is complete, the goal of the association will have been accomplished, with only a brief gap (served by [[Kansas City metropolitan area#Interstates|other Interstates]] or US&nbsp;71).

=== 2019 closures ===

In March and April&nbsp;2019, as a result of the [[2019 Midwestern U.S. floods|2019 Midwestern US floods]], I-29 was closed in both directions for approximately {{convert|187|mi|km}} between [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]] and [[Council Bluffs, Iowa|Council Bluffs]]. Much of this section of I-29, including at the Missouri–Iowa border, runs over or through a large floodplain for the [[Missouri River|Missouri]] and [[Platte River|Platte]] rivers. As such, multiple elevated sections of the highway collapsed and other sections were submerged or washed out by floodwaters. This was the largest closure of an Interstate Highway in terms of distance in the history of the Interstate Highway System. A signed detour was not officially designated in most areas, as the roads that would be used as detours are mostly rural farm roads that were also submerged by flooding. However, along I-80 in Iowa, traffic from I-80 in Iowa was officially detoured via I-35 from Des Moines, Iowa, to Kansas City, Missouri. [[U.S. Route 75|US&nbsp;75]], paralleling I-29 on the other side of the Missouri River, was also closed in large sections due to flooding.

By May&nbsp;2019, the vast majority of I-29 had been repaired and reopened, with the exception of {{convert|10|mi|km}} around Council Bluffs where the highway ran concurrent with [[Interstate 680 (Iowa-Nebraska)|I-680]] (now the portion of I-29 between I-680 and I-880). However, throughout the remainder of the spring and summer, and even early fall, more rainfall and flooding resulted in sections of I-29 being closed again, including on the recently repaired sections. At a few times, the entire {{Convert|187|mi|km|adj=on}} section between St. Joseph and Council Bluffs was completely shut down, although this was rare after May&nbsp;2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.3newsnow.com/news/2019-flood/stretch-of-i-29-closes-again|title=Stretch of I-29 closes again|date=October 6, 2019|website=KMTV|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008235352/https://www.3newsnow.com/news/2019-flood/stretch-of-i-29-closes-again|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omaha.com/news/public-safety/roads/flooding-closes-parts-of-i--i--near-council/article_5fc7b228-8105-5e72-98e9-fac34cd40e7b.html|title=Flooding closes parts of I-680, I-29 near Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley|first=Jessica Wade World-Herald staff|last=writer|website=Omaha.com|date=21 September 2019|access-date=8 October 2019|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008235350/https://www.omaha.com/news/public-safety/roads/flooding-closes-parts-of-i--i--near-council/article_5fc7b228-8105-5e72-98e9-fac34cd40e7b.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kwit.org/post/flooding-again-closes-section-i-29-grassley-grandson-lead-iowa-house|title=Flooding Again Closes Section of I-29, Grassley Grandson to Lead Iowa House|first=Mary|last=Hartnett|website=www.kwit.org|date=7 October 2019|access-date=8 October 2019|archive-date=8 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008235400/https://www.kwit.org/post/flooding-again-closes-section-i-29-grassley-grandson-lead-iowa-house|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of October&nbsp;2019, all of I-29 is open to traffic in both directions, although some Missouri River bridges and local farm roads remain closed due to flooding.

==Junction list==
;Missouri
: {{jct|country=USA|I|35|I|70|US|24|US|40|US|71}} at the [[Downtown Loop (Kansas City)|Downtown Loop]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]. I-29 / I-35 travel concurrently through Kansas City. I-29 / US&nbsp;71 travel concurrently to east of [[Amazonia, Missouri|Amazonia]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|69}} on the [[Gladstone, Missouri|Gladstone]]–Kansas City city line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|169}} on the Gladstone–Kansas City city line
: {{jct|country=USA|I|635|dab1=Kansas–Missouri}} in Kansas City
: {{jct|country=USA|I|435}} in Kansas City. The highways travel concurrently to [[Platte City, Missouri|Platte City]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|229|dab1=Missouri}} south-southeast of [[St. Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|169}} in St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|US|36}} in St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|US|169}} in St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59|BL|29}} north-northeast of St. Joseph. I-29 / US&nbsp;59 travel concurrently to east of [[Amazonia, Missouri|Amazonia]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|229|dab1=Missouri|US|59|US|71}} north of St. Joseph
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59}} northwest of Amazonia. The highways travel concurrently for approximately {{convert|1.8|mi|km}}.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59}} north of [[Oregon, Missouri|Oregon]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|159}} south-southeast of [[Mound City, Missouri|Mound City]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59}} east of [[Craig, Missouri|Craig]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|136}} in [[Rock Port, Missouri|Rock Port]]
;Iowa
: {{jct|country=USA|US|34|US|275}} west of [[Glenwood, Iowa|Glenwood]]. I-29 / US&nbsp;275 travel concurrently to [[Council Bluffs, Iowa|Council Bluffs]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|80|US|6}} in Council Bluffs. I-29 / US&nbsp;6 travel concurrently through Council Bluffs.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|480|dab1=Iowa–Nebraska}} in Council Bluffs
: {{jct|country=USA|I|680|dab1=Iowa–Nebraska}} west-southwest of [[Crescent, Iowa|Crescent]] 
: {{jct|I|880|country=USA|dab1=Iowa}} west-southwest of [[Loveland, Iowa|Loveland]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|30}} in [[Missouri Valley, Iowa|Missouri Valley]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|129|US|20|US|75}} in [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|77}} in Sioux City
;South Dakota
: {{jct|country=USA|BS|29}} in [[North Sioux City, South Dakota|North Sioux City]]
: {{jct|country=USA|BL|29}} in [[Elk Point, South Dakota|Elk Point]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|18}} south-southwest of [[Worthing, South Dakota|Worthing]]. The highways travel concurrently for approximately {{convert|3.02|mi|km}}.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|229|dab1=South Dakota}} in [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls]]
: {{jct|country=USA|BS|29}} in Sioux Falls
: {{jct|country=USA|I|90}} in Sioux Falls
: {{jct|country=USA|US|14|BS|29}} in [[Brookings, South Dakota|Brookings]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|212}} in [[Watertown, South Dakota|Watertown]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|81}} northeast of Watertown. The highways travel concurrently to east of [[Manvel, North Dakota]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|12}} northwest of [[Summit, South Dakota|Summit]]
;North Dakota
: {{jct|country=USA|I|94|US|52}} in [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|10|BL|94}} in Fargo
: {{jct|country=USA|US|2}} in [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|81}} south-southwest of [[Joliette, North Dakota|Joliette]]. The highways travel concurrently to the [[Canada–United States border]] north of [[Pembina, North Dakota|Pembina]].
: {{jct|state=MB|PTH|75}} at the Canada–United States border north of Pembina
<ref name=randmcnally>{{cite book |author = Rand McNally |year = 2014 |title = The Road Atlas |edition = Walmart |location = Chicago |publisher = Rand McNally |pages = 38, 58, 77, 93|isbn = 978-0-528-00771-2}}</ref>

==Auxiliary routes==
*[[Saint Joseph, Missouri|St. Joseph, Missouri]]: [[Interstate 229 (Missouri)|I-229]]
*[[Sioux City, Iowa]]: [[Interstate 129|I-129]]
*[[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]]: [[Interstate 229 (South Dakota)|I-229]]

==See also==
{{portal|U.S. Roads}}
* [[Business routes of Interstate 29]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{commons category-inline}}

{{interstates}}
{{I-29 aux}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:29}}
[[Category:Interstate 29| ]]
[[Category:Interstate Highway System]]