West Des Moines officials acknowledge that the first day of classes this week was tougher for parents and students as construction on Grand Avenue near Sacred Heart School and Stilwell Junior High forced the street to operate with only one lane in each direction. The temporary inconvenience is part of a larger, five‑to‑six‑month project aimed at widening the road, adding a dedicated left‑turn lane and installing a pedestrian hybrid beacon to protect children crossing one of the city’s busiest corridors.
Project timeline and scope
City Engineer Brian Hemesath explained that the work was scheduled to overlap the school year from the start. “We just had some delays to start, but the duration of this project was always going to be about five to six months long,” Hemesath said. Iowa’s short construction season—typically from spring through Thanksgiving—means the city must finish major projects before winter sets in.
City documents set a substantial‑completion deadline of Nov. 20, 2026, for most roadway and underground work, with a final completion date of April 30, 2027. The $1.03 million project is funded through general‑obligation bonds and storm‑water fees.
What the construction includes
The Grand Avenue improvement does more than resurface pavement. The roadway will be widened from just east of Vine Street through the 16th Street intersection, creating a five‑lane cross‑section and an eastbound left‑turn lane at 16th Street. A pedestrian hybrid beacon will be installed at the intersection; the beacon stays dark until a pedestrian activates it, then flashes and displays solid lights to alert drivers and stop traffic, giving children a protected crossing.
Underground work includes installing larger storm‑sewer pipes identified in the city’s 2013 Southeast Drainage Basin Study. The upgrades tie into a broader regional storm‑water detention facility being built at 12th and Vine, which will help manage future drainage needs north of Grand Avenue.
Impact on schools and families
During the week of July 20, the contractor closed the 16th Street intersection while removing pavement, keeping one lane open in each direction. Sacred Heart School reported that entrances from Grand Avenue were closed for utility and sidewalk work, directing families to use 16th Street for drop‑off and exit onto Grand Avenue. The intersection is expected to remain closed until roughly mid‑October.
A complete weekend closure of Grand Avenue occurred from the night of Friday, Aug. 21, through early Monday, Aug. 24, limiting campus access to 16th Street. One parent said arriving early helped manage the trip, but anticipated heavier traffic as pickup times increase.
City coordination with schools
Hemesath said the city met with administrators from Stilwell Junior High, West Des Moines Community Schools transportation officials, and Sacred Heart leaders about a month before classes began to coordinate entry and exit routes. He urged families to remain patient, noting that traffic was moving smoothly through the altered pattern on the first day.
“Exercise patience,” Hemesath said. “They’ll get their kids to school. We’ll do everything we can to help them out.”
Why the project matters
Traffic counts show more than 10,000 vehicles travel the Grand Avenue corridor near the schools each day. Hemesath emphasized that mixing that volume of traffic with children creates unique safety challenges. The data collected by the city indicated a clear need for a safer crossing for the students who cross the street daily.
While families will continue to navigate construction for several weeks, city officials say the short‑term inconvenience will be offset by a long‑term improvement that provides a safer, more efficient route for both motorists and pedestrians.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
