Headaches on the Horizon for West Des Moines Commuters Using Grand Avenue

The traffic snarls West Des Moines commuters using Grand Avenue avoided last year are about to become a reality.

Beginning March 25, the city of Des Moines will close the Grand Avenue bridge over Walnut Creek at 63rd Street – that’s First Street on the West Des Moines side, KCCI reported.

Traffic will still be able to use 63rd Street/First Street, but a detour route using 63rd Street, University Avenue and 56th Street is planned, according to the TV station.

Replacing the bridge will cost about $3.3 million.

The new bridge, which will cost about $3.3 million, will have five traffic lanes and two new turn lanes to assist traffic flow onto 63rd Street.

The bridge should reopen September, but the entire construction project won't be complete until spring of 2014.

The project was originally slated for the 2012 construction season, but was delayed to give CenturyLink more time to remove cables from bridge, according to the city of Des Moines’ web site.

About 18,000 vehicles a day use the bridge.