This was typical of the roads in Iowa 14 years ago. Hopefully, they have improved since then. You might want to use Google Map Street View to check out the route. It will give you a good idea about shoulders. It has been awhile, but I remember some roads with shoulders that had rumble strips completely across the shoulder. My wife wrote a letter about the rumble strips to Iowa's governor when we got home
I agree, Iowa is not flat! That what causes the problem. On those short hills a cyclist my not be visible to the drivers approaching from behind them. We were riding on US-20 because our goal was to ride 20 across the U.S. from Oregon to Boston, but you have the option of picking a route with less traffic.
