(Des Moines, IA ) -- It's taken five years to reconstruct a four-mile stretch of Fleur Drive in Des Moines.
"When I say complete reconstruction, that is completely rebuilding the road from the dirt up and also doing a lot of utility work; replacing water mains and storm sewers. We also built sidewalks with that project," said Des Moines City Engineer Steve Naber.
Naber tells WHO Radio News Fleur Drive carries about 30,000 drivers per day and the city can't just close it down to complete the work. It needed to be done in stages to keep other portions open at the same time. Naber acknowledges the construction has caused a lot of traffic back ups and asks for the public's patience.
Traffic is down to one lane each way on Fleur Drive between George Flagg and Martin Luther King, Junior Parkways for resurfacing.
The 200-million dollar project is expected to be complete by October.