The proposed highway was to run from Illinois Route 80 near Port Byron, Illinois, which ran along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, over a new bridge into Iowa. It would then span across the state to the South Omaha Bridge where US 275 crossed the Missouri River. The entire route was to be in close proximity to US 6 across the state. It was to be the first modern four-lane highway in the state, with lanes and an at least grassy median. Sixteen interchanges were planned along the route. Most interchanges were to be located near population centers; an option to build a seventeenth near Grinnell, if necessary, was included. Eight service areas, similar in quality to those found on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes, were planned as well.