(Ankeny, IA) -- The City of Ankeny's asking drivers to be patient and allow for extra time to get to the destination, due to three major road projects. Crews began working on the largest project this week. Work is underway to wide the city's busiest intersection, just west of Des Moines Area Community College. Ankeny Public Works Director Mark Mueller says up to 25,000 vehicles travel on Oralabor Road near SW State Street (Highway 415) each day. He says due to the traffic volume as well as pedestrian and rising bicycle traffic, crews are planning to install an underpass to increase safety. Crews will begin widening the intersection this year and install the underpass next year.
Mueller says there are two other major projects. Crews plan to rebuild NE Delaware between 5th and 18th Street over the next two years. A third project will improve NW 18th Street. between Ash Drive and N Ankeny Blvd. He says the projects are designed to improve mobility and safety. He notes they'll post updates on the city's website.
Ankeny is the fastest-growing city in Iowa. The 2021 population was listed at 70,287. In the year 2000, Ankeny's population was just over 27,000.