Des Moines' Army Post Road is getting a roundabout
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City engineers say a roundabout project at East Army Post Road and Southeast 36th Street would reduce the severity of accidents by eliminating head-on and 90-degree angle crashes. Rendering: Courtesy of the city of DSM
Des Moines' roundabout revolution will launch at East Army Post Road and Southeast 36th Street under a project before the City Council.
Why it matters: A traffic study shows replacing the two-way stop sign intersection with a roundabout will reduce speeds and crashes in an area near Easter Lake where significant traffic growth is anticipated.
Driving the news: The DSM City Council is expected to review bids for the estimated $3.2 million project next month.
Flashback: DSM began planning roundabout projects more than a year ago, citing studies that show they substantially reduce crashes that cause deaths or serious injuries.
- They are also part of Vision Zero, a citywide series of street safety improvement projects designed to eliminate traffic deaths by 2040.
The intrigue: Not all roundabouts are created equally. Altoona removed an older roundabout this year, partly because it was smaller than others and difficult for larger vehicles to navigate. The city replaced it with a four-way stop.
What's next: If the City Council approves the bids, construction will begin this spring and take about a year to complete.
