Construction on major link between Ankeny and Des Moines could cause headaches for months

The Des Moines Register

Construction will close the intersection of Northwest 66th Avenue and Northwest Second Street for the foreseeable future.

Correction: An earlier version of this story contained an error. Northwest Second Street will be reduced to a single lane as the road approaches 66th Avenue.

Starting next week, drivers who travel Northwest Second Street between Des Moines and Ankeny may want to find a new route.

On Monday, the road, a major thoroughfare for Ankeny commuters to and from Des Moines, will be reduced to a single lane in each direction as it approaches the intersection with 66th Avenue.

The Iowa Department of Transportation project, which is expected to last the next seven months, also will close exit and entrance ramps at the intersection, as well as 66th Avenue.

► Be the first to know of breaking news. Get alerts in our free apps.

The DOT is tearing out the bridge and changing it to an at-grade intersection, said Brett St. John, a DOT construction technician.

A detour for 66th Avenue traffic will take direct drivers to Highway 69, Oralabor Road and Northwest 26th Street. A full detour map is posted on the Iowa 511 website.