Road Construction Ahead for Urbandale

Urbandale will be expanding parts of three major roads through the suburb this summer, said City Manager A.J. Johnson.

One of those — 128th Street from Hickman Road to Douglas Avenue, shown in the graphic above — is expected to be voted on by the. The council is being asked to authorize a preliminary assessment schedule to property owners along the road.

Documents prepared by the city engineer's office show that residents and agricultural land owners along that stretch of road will be asked to contribute a total of about $102,000 for sidewalk construction as part of the $1.8 million project, which will widen the road to four lanes, with left-turn lanes.

Property owners will be notified of their assessments and the council is being asked to schedule a public hearing on the project at its Feb. 7 meeting.

Johnson said the road-widening project means drivers will have a four-lane road almost all the way from E.P. True Parkway in West Des Moines to Grimes. He said traffic will never be completely blocked during construction and at least one lane always will be open.

Other major roads scheduled for widening this year are:

• Meredith Drive, from 86th Street to 104th Street, or Northwest Urbandale Drive.
• 121st Street, from Douglas Avenue to Meredith Drive.

There also will be some intersection improvements at 86th Street and Douglas Avenue to improve traffic flow in relation to the expansion of at that corner. 

And there will be some preservation work on Douglas Avenue from 100th Street to 111th Street, Johnson said.