East of the 86th Street exit, the freeway begins a slow descent towards the Des Moines River. Merle Hay Road, named for the first Iowan to die in World War I, carries Iowa 28 from the south to its northern end at the Interstates. They cross the Des Moines River just south of the mouth of Beaver Creek. to the east is Iowa 415 and further east is US 69. Between the interchanges there is a fourth lane in each direction. At the end of their together, I-35 exits to the north and I-235's eastern end is to the south at the East Mixmaster.