Waukee Council Approves Expansion of Alice’s Road

Alice’s Road will be widened between Highway 6 and University Avenue after the Waukee City Council voted Monday unanimously to commit money to the project.

The vote approved an application for funding on the widening of the road. The next step is for the city to provide matching funds for the project.

The council saw the need for the road’s expansion even before its meeting started. A few Waukee residents were delayed arriving to city hall, resulting in a 5:35 p.m. start for the meeting. They all cited traffic congestion which contributed to their delay. City Hall is located off Hickman Road, or Highway 6.

“Alice’s Road controls traffic that funnels in to the main roads,” said Mayor Bill Peard. “I welcome the expansion and think a lot of people will be excited about it.”

Peard also thinks the expansion will benefit traffic flow to the new Hy-Vee grocery store location opening in spring, 2013 off Alice’s Road.

The city’s contribution to the project will be $2.4 million of the total $3.8 million. The Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) will allocate $1.2 million, and money will come out of the fiscal year 2016-2017.

Brad Deets, the interim city administrator, indicated the project will be necessary as Alice’s Road gets extended to the south.

Approval of the vote means the City of Waukee will now apply for STP funding through the Des Moines Metropolitan Organization for the project.