Interstate 80 spanning from New York to California, and Interstate 35 spanning from Canada to Mexico intersect in the middle of Iowa. Interstate 29 serves a direct route to Kansas City and the Dakotas, while Interstate 90 serves a direct route to the Pacific Northwest. Nearing completion is the "Avenue of the Saints" connecting St. Louis, Missouri with the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and traversing the eastern portion of Iowa.
Two of the country's greatest navigable rivers, the "Mighty Mississippi" and the Missouri rivers form the east and west borders of the state. They converge in St. Louis, Missouri to form the third longest river in the world. Sixty percent of all grain exported from the US is shipped via the Mississippi river. More than 170 million tons of freight is shipped each year via the Mississippi river.
Iowa's 130,000-mile freight transportation system includes an extensive railroad network. While rail accounts for only 3 percent of the freight network, it carries 37 percent of Iowa's freight tonnage. A great variety of commodities ranging from fresh food to textiles to optical products are moved by rail. The railroad network performs an important role in moving bulk commodities produced and consumed in the state to local processors, livestock feeders, river terminals and ports for foreign export. Extensive information related to Iowa's rail system.
Iowa Area Development Group provides economic development services including site selection, available industrial sites and buildings, and community data.
