WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — City officials in West Des Moines held a public meeting to discuss a possible bridge planned to cross the Raccoon River, and some lowlands, to reach the south side of the city. The purpose would be to extend Jordan Creek Parkway from where it now comes to a T-Intersection ending on Grand Ave. It would extend to Maffitt Lake Road.

“For many years, we’ve been looking at how we can connect up the city from the north side to the south side and the river has always been an impediment for us,” said West Des Moines City Engineer Brian Hemesath. “We really only have three good ways to cross the river, Interstate 35, Grand Prairie Parkway, and then Highway 28.”

The City has seen some growth on the south side, but Engineer Hemesath believes there is more growth to come in that area.

“There’s about nine miles of area with only three available crossings,” said Hemesath.

The area where growth will come is around the Maffitt Lake area.

“That area is like the four corners of the four counties that are in West Des Moines, so you got Madison, Dallas, Warren, and Polk,” said Hemesath. “Actually the four corners are in the middle of Maffitt Lake so down in that area you’ve got a lot of different things going on in four different counties. You have several different school districts. Some school districts are losing students, some are gaining students, so we’re working with school districts and developers and trying to find ways to make development easier.”

The bridge would cost over $40 million to build, and the exact alignment has not be determined. This road is planned to go to Maffitt Lake Road. It could extend further south at a later date.

Already, there is some interest in starting a new housing development in that area.

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