Des Moines Sun

The Norwalk City Council recently discussed a pavement widening project within the city.

At their Jan. 19 council meeting, Norwalk city officials opened a public hearing regarding their proposed project to widen the way at Beardsley Street and Iowa Highway 28. Wayne Schwartz, the City’s Public Works director, presented an overview of the project.

"It will be a fairly extensive project starting at Park Place and continue on, adding lane widening and a trail that runs alongside the south side, getting moved from the north side," he said in the meeting. "They will put the median back in the road, add new traffic signals at the intersection and new pedestrian crossing walks.

"So it's exciting. Like I mentioned on Tuesday, it's going to be somewhat frustrating probably for people trying to get through during the five stages as part of it. Two or three of them will shut down the east side of Beardsley, so the detour around will be Apple Valley and North Avenue for those people trying to get over to the ridge from Highway 28."

On each side of the intersection there will be a dedicated right-turn lane, a straight lane and a dedicated left-turn lane. The project will impact access to Bryson and Cedar Drive, amending the intersection and widening lanes as well as working on some of the right-of-ways and connecting streets. The recent growth and development in the area has made the project necessary.

The council approved the project without the access point that would no longer be utilized by a local business. The council also approved awarding the project's contract to Elder Corporation as well as a resolution regarding the City's financing directions. The project will tentatively begin in March.