Community Corner
Detour-Weary Commuters Won’t Get a Straight Shot on Grand Avenue Right Away
More construction delays on Walnut Creek bridge project are a sore topic with some business owners, too.
The discovery of asbestos and, later, boulders and debris in the Walnut Creek channel have put a $3.3 million project to replace the Grand Avenue Bridge about three months behind schedule.
That means commuters who use the route for a straight shot to downtown offices will have to find creative detours for a bit longer. The route has been closed since late March for work on the bridge at Grand Avenue and First Street in West Des Moines.
The Des Moines Register reported last week that the work is nearly three months behind schedule, but efforts are being made to get the city of Des Moines project back on track. The original completion date is Sept. 27, and for each day the project continues after that, general contractor Jenco Construction faces a $5,000 fine.
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Some business owners in the area are becoming impatient, including the owners of Sully’s Irish Pub at 110 Grand Ave.
“It’s just horrible how long it’s taken for them to get this bridge open,” Sully’s owner Bill Boggs told the Register. “I know there’s a lot of other bars and businesses that are struggling.”
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The project was originally supposed to be done last year, but was delayed so CenturyLink could relocate a major utility line.
Delays this year were attributed to the discovery of a “minor” amount of asbestos, the newspaper said. Last week, the Des Moines City Council approved a change order adding about $175,000 to the project to remove boulders and debris discovered during excavation in the Walnut Creek channel. Engineering changes delayed the project more.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.