Can Work Resume on Alice's Road Corridor?

The Indiana bat, an endangered species earlier spotted in Waukee whose presence has delayed work on the Alice's Road project, was not found in a survey last week for the animal, according to the Des Moines Register.

Workers for Stantec Consulting Services Inc. -- the company hired by the cities of Waukee and West Des Moines to complete a mist net survey for the bat -- did not find the bat in two attempts, Waukee Public Works Director John Gibson told the newspaper.

The Indiana bats spend most of their time hibernating in caves in northeastern states and roost in wooded areas in the summer months, which is when they are most likely to be found in Iowa.

The consultant's work was to determine how the habitat of the endangered Indiana bat species will be affected by the Alice’s Road/105th Street interchange. Discovery of the bat about five-eighths of a mile from the proposed $31 million interchange has slowed work on the project.

The consultant’s report about how the bat’s habitat could be affected by construction has been forwarded onto the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Register said. The report will have to be approved by federal officials before construction plans can proceed.

Gibson told the newspaper he was optimistic the project would not be delayed any longer due to the bat.

The two cities split the $19,728 cost of the mist survey.

Once complete, the Alice's Road corridor in Waukee will include 1,700 acres of potential development; a mix of retail, office, research and development and housing alternatives; a series of unique districts focused around major cross streets, linked by a system of active and passive open spaces; interconnected street and trail network; greenway that offers recreational, storm water and open space functions – an interconnected system of parks, green space and water features linked by a network of bike trails and sidewalks; and a hierarchy of street types that will accommodate vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle and transit options.

Road and sewer construction has begun as Alice's Road expands from University Avenue to Ashworth Road and beyond.