Des Moines is considering its most significant overhaul of southwest Ninth Street in decades — including two roundabouts and a direct sidewalk connection across the Raccoon River to finally link neighborhoods with downtown.

Why it matters: It's one of the south side's busiest and most crash-prone streets.

• The proposal comes as recent improvements to MacRae Park and the construction of hundreds of new apartments in the adjacent Gray's Landing neighborhood are driving more foot traffic.

Driving the news: The DSM City Council this week authorized an agreement with the Iowa DOT covering $1.5 million of a $10 million Southwest Ninth Street bridge rehabilitation project over the Raccoon River.

• In addition to structural repairs, the bridge is being reviewed to determine if its deck can be altered to accommodate a protected sidewalk.

The intrigue: The sidewalk currently ends mid-bridge, dumping pedestrians onto a staircase and leaving no direct, accessible route into the downtown corridor.

Flashback: Des Moines has wrestled with improving the corridor for years, with a 2014 study noting its trouble with vacant or blighted properties, narrow right-of-way and traffic congestion.

• Revitalization could enhance the area's role as the "Southside's Main Street" and better serve attractions downtown, it found.

The latest: The city completed a traffic study last year along a roughly 3.5-mile stretch of the street from Dart Way near downtown to McKinley Avenue — an area that is adjacent to Lincoln High School and Park Avenue Elementary.

• Over 500 crashes, 12 serious injuries and three fatalities were recorded there between 2019 and 2023, according to the study.

Zoom in: The study recommends adding roundabouts at the intersections of Bancroft Street and Bell Avenue.

• Those projects are included in budget documents that the City Council will vote on in the coming weeks, with anticipated construction in the fiscal years starting in July 2028 and 2030, respectively.

Yes, but: The timing of the roundabout projects is now uncertain after the city recently learned that a federal grant was not awarded to them, city engineer Steve Naber tells Axios.

What they're saying: Alec Davis of Momentum DSM and Luke Hoffman of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition — groups that advocate for safer streets — tell Axios that they'd also like to see the city reduce the number of traffic lanes in the corridor.

• Ideally, Southwest Ninth would resemble the ongoing transformation along Ingersoll Avenue, Hoffman said.

What's next: Construction on the Southwest Ninth bridge is expected to begin in the fall of 2027.

Linh here. I stopped by Toyo Ramen & Japanese Street Foods, the latest restaurant to join the array of Asian cuisines in Ankeny.

State of play: The restaurant is owned by Tashi Chompel, a Tibetan immigrant who trained in Japan.

• He moved into the former Lola's Fine Kitchen space in The District at Prairie Trail earlier this year.

The menu: You'll find ramen, of course, plus Japanese street foods like takoyaki ($6.95) — octopus balls cooked in batter.

• There's also steamed buns ($5.95) and pork gyoza ($5.95) — pan-fried pork dumplings.
• The restaurant also serves donburi, Japanese rice bowls often served with curry, meat and vegetables.

What I tried: I got the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen ($14.95) served with pork both, pork chashu, mushrooms, an egg, seaweed and black garlic oil.

• The workers were nice, the atmosphere inside the restaurant was fun and the food was decent.
• There's a lot of solid ramen restaurants in the metro, like Wasabi and Hana, so I'm interested in trying Toyo's more unique menu items at my next visit.

If you go: 11am-9pm Monday-Thursday; 11am-9:30pm Friday; noon to 9:30pm Saturday; and noon to 8:30pm Sunday.

• 1615 SW Main Street, #106, Ankeny.

Friday

🎭 The Outsiders | The 2024 Tony Award winner brings S.E. Hinton's iconic story to life on stage at the Civic Center. | 7:30pm Friday, plus performances Saturday and Sunday | $85

🐶 Valentine's Puppies Night Out | Puppies under 8 months will take over the small dog park at Paws & Pints. Puppy parents receive a free pint! | 5-7pm | Free!

Saturday

🔬 SCI Girls in Science Festival | Celebrate women in science at the Science Center of Iowa. Meet female STEM professionals, join hands-on workshops and explore interactive exhibits. | 9am-4pm | General admission

🎱 BingoBASH | Join the Rotary Club of Des Moines AM for an all-day bingo fundraiser supporting local nonprofits. | 9am-7pm | Elwell Family Food Center, Iowa State Fairgrounds | $20 per session

🛍️ Vintage + Handmade Market | Shop local vintage and handmade goods at a market held by Upcycled DSM and Big Açaí. | 10am-3pm | 115 & 117 5th St., West Des Moines | Free!

Sunday

🍺 Paint & Sip at Firetrucker Brewery | Spend your Sunday afternoon getting creative with a guided paint session. | 1pm | $30

In Des Moines and other U.S. cities, our typical winters are getting shorter amid climate change, per a new analysis from Climate Central, a climate research group.

Driving the news: Compared to the 1970-1997 period, winters are now shorter in 80% of the 245 U.S. cities analyzed in the report.

• Among those 195 cities, winter lasts for nine fewer days on average.
• In Des Moines, winter is six days shorter, per Climate Central.

Our thought bubble: We're not complaining about today's temps, but this is something to think about!

Concerned residents attended a public meeting last night and pushed back against a lighting project that would illuminate Waveland Golf Course at night.

What they're saying: City staff say the project would free up tee times and generate more revenue.

The other side: Opponents are concerned about light pollution, potential harm to local wildlife and negative effects on programs at Drake Municipal Observatory, which is located on the golf course's grounds.

• Despite the concerns, officials at the meeting say they are still planning the project for this spring, WHO-13 reports.