Western Iowa looks a lot greener on the new D-O-T road maps for 2001, which are first appearing in Welcome Center racks today. That end of the state has a unique type of land topography which is getting new emphasis on the map — what’s considered one of Iowa’s most popular publications. Brenda Leerhoff is cartography coordinator at the Iowa D-O-T. She says the geographic land formation of the Loess Hills is being featured along with the Hills’ scenic byway. Leerhoff says that’s one of the 200 changes being made on this map from the year-2000 edition. In addition to the Loess Hills, Leerhoff says four other scenic byways have been added to this year’s map. They’re in Allamakee, Clayton and Fayette counties in the northeast and in O’Brein, Cherokee, Buena Vista and Clay counties in the northwest. A few municipalities have also been added. The three new towns on this year’s map are: Carney in Polk County, National in Clayton County and Bangor in Marshall County. Two million copies of the new map have been printed and are available free by calling 800-345-IOWA. They can also be ordered (and viewed) over the Internet at “www.dot.state.ia.us”.
