Meredith Residents Feel 'Steamrolled' on Medians

More than 40 Urbandale residents upset about the planned widening of Meredith Drive attended a special and sometimes-contentious meeting with the mayor and City Council Tuesday.

The meeting was called spontaneously by Mayor Robert Andeweg, who said he had received communications and questions from more than 30 people about the project. 

Sarah VandeVoort, 9100 Meredith Drive, returned after speaking to the council two weeks ago. "I basically felt I got blown off." 

She and her husband, Henry, each spoke separately and each received applause from the audience.

"I had my wife speak first because I thought she would be a little more civil," said Henry VandeVoort. "We feel we are being steamrolled and I think the rest of the folks feel the same way."

"It's Gonna Suck"

"I think the part that we all are having trouble understanding are these massive medians that will distract from the residential feel of this area," VandeVoort said.

The medians mean that some residents will only be able to turn right out of their driveways and will only be able to enter their driveway from the opposite direction.

Sarah VandeVoort told the council: "I challenge you for the next two weeks, just turn right out of your driveway and turn right in. It would be a huge inconvenience. … It's gonna suck."

The residents said they are concerned about access because of medians, about the safety of children crossing Meredith, particularly from the park near 91st Street, and whether there should be traffic lights installed, as well as extra traffic signals in adjoining neighborhoods because of cars trying to turn around.

They also noted that Meredith Drive east of 86th Street is four lanes, without medians.

Medians Improve Safety

"A four-lane, undivided street is probably the most dangerous street of any one of all," responded City Engineer David McKay.

He noted that Meredith Drive from Merle Hay Road to 86th Street had 153 accidents in five years.

He said that road was not as well planned: "We have very little access control. Access control definitely makes a street safer, no doubt about it."

Medians increase safety because they prevent left turns across oncoming traffic, he said.

Summer Ridge Petitions Council

Residents of the Townhomes of Summer Ridge, 10100 Meredith Drive, have presented a petition to the city council asking it to move the median in front of their only entrance and exit. 

Mayor Andeweg told them the median is "nothing that's set in stone or has already been decided." He said the council would consider their request in two weeks.

Construction is to begin today. The street was to have closed Monday, but there were no barricades up and traffic was coming and going Tuesday afternoon.