Urbandale Ties Interchange Projects, Development Areas Together With 'Urban Loop'

URBANDALE, IA. -- Three Interstate 35/80 interchanges planned for Urbandale will open up myriad possibilities for development and city officials on Tuesday announced a campaign to brand the area as the Urban Loop to aid efforts in courting businesses to the city. More than 700 acres within the Urban Loop is undeveloped at this point.

But when the three interchanges are completed, Urbandale will have more access points to and from the interstates than any other metro community and the city also created a new tagline -- Turning Access Into Opportunity -- to reflect that.

The Urban Loop economic development area extends throughout the six miles of interstate in Urbandale, from Merle Hay to Hickman roads. City officials previously said that much of the ground is “shovel ready” with water and sewer lines in place.

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The Iowa Department of Transportation expects to have the first of the three interchanges, at Northwest 100th St., completed next year. Following that, Meredith Drive will get a northbound exit ramp and southbound entrance ramp in 2020.

The final segment of the projects will be a flyover ramp connecting northbound I-35/80 to northbound Iowa Highway 141 and extending the southbound Highway 141 ramp to Interstates 35/80.

Maps of the Urban Loop area have been prepared by the city to show prospective businesses where space is available.

Previously on Patch: Urbandale brand campaign development area to be launched Tuesday

Logo, City of Urbandale website