City of Des Moines Engineering

05/01/2026

The long-awaited day is here – the replacement of the Walnut Street Bridge is complete and open to the public!

This marks the completion of the 3rd and final bridge replacement downtown. Work will continue over the next couple of months to finish installing the final touches, but the bridge is officially open to traffic.

04/30/2026

Take a look at some big projects opening up right before summer!

04/23/2026

🚧 Ingersoll Streetscape Construction Update 🚧

Thank you for your patience along the corridor during construction season.

The latest work during Phase 5:
• Storm sewer installed
• Water main relocations underway

What’s in the near future:
• Continued storm sewer and water main work

Looking ahead:
• Driveway + retaining wall work will begin this month (weather dependent)
• Additional retaining wall work will begin in early May

This streetscape project is about more than construction. It’s about safer streets, updated infrastructure, and a more walkable, accessible corridor for everyone.

03/27/2026

Thank you to the APWA Iowa Chapter for letting us crash the Spring Conference at the Iowa Events Center this week! We are making strides through our Vision Zero Program, and we appreciate the opportunity to share it on this big stage!

03/20/2026

🚧 East Locust Streetscape Improvements – 2026 Work Begins Soon

We’re continuing to invest in East Locust Street with the next phase of streetscape improvements kicking off in late March.

Last year, crews replaced 120 light fixtures and refreshed 60 light poles from the Des Moines River to E. 7th Street. Now, we’re building on that progress with upgrades focused on safety, accessibility, and long-term durability.

What to expect in 2026:
• Replacement of 99 county plaques
• Sidewalk repairs and upgraded ADA curb ramps
• Removal of brick banding and damaged railings
• Fresh pavement resurfacing
• Conversion of E. 4th St. and E. 7th St. intersections to all-way stops
• New curb extensions to shorten pedestrian crossings

Access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout construction. Each block will experience temporary disruptions to on-street parking as work progresses, but most parking will remain accessible throughout the project.

We appreciate your patience as we make East Locust safer!

03/11/2026

🚧 Phase 5 of the Ingersoll Avenue Streetscape is Here! 🚧

After a year off, we are moving forward with the next phase of the Ingersoll Avenue improvements! Phase 5 will focus on the stretch between 31st Street and 35th Street.

What to Expect: This Complete Streets design is all about continuing to improve safety, reduce traffic speeds, and enhance multimodal accessibility for everyone!

Exciting upgrades coming to this corridor include:
🚲 Protected lanes for cyclists
🚶 Wider sidewalks & enhanced flashing-beacon pedestrian crossings
🌳 Tree canopy, beautification, & new street furniture
🛑 Traffic-calming medians & ADA accessibility improvements.

01/22/2026

Last week, our engineers and department staff put their building skills to the test. The team created Flying Pigs, a unique form of paper airplanes, to launch from the mezzanine of the Great Hall located in the Historic City Hall.

Over the years and in the Great Hall, countless engineering projects have gone from ideas to being used by thousands of residents every day. Although we will miss this beautiful and historic building along with all the memories made here, we are looking forward to better serving the residents of Des Moines in the new City Hall facility.

For more information on our move and how to access city services, please visit DSM.city/Moving.

01/21/2026

If you are looking to visit us in person, we have now officially relocated to the new City Hall facility at the T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building!

Moving Update:

Several departments are now fully relocated to the new City Hall facility at the T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building and are now offering services there.

If you are looking for services from the following departments, you will now visit them at 1200 Locust Street instead of their previous locations:

Development Services
City of Des Moines Engineering
Information Technology
Neighborhood Services
Permit and Development Services
City of Des Moines - Small Business

Keep track of our moving progress before you visit at DSM.city/Moving

12/20/2025

Congratulations, Scott! Well deserved, and we wish you the best in your retirement!

10/24/2025

There's a new roundabout in town! 🚗🔄️🚛

Following a 2020 traffic study that identified speed and safety concerns near E Army Post Road and SE 36th Street, the Engineering Department decided to convert the two-way stop-controlled intersection into a roundabout.

Roundabouts offer the benefit of reduced speeds and safer passage at busy intersections, without compromising the steady flow of traffic! Costing less than signalized intersections, roundabouts also add green space, safer pedestrian crossings and lower emissions thanks to reduced idling times.

We thank our neighbors in the Easter Lake area and all motorists and visitors on the southeast side as contractors have worked to complete the first City-constructed roundabout in Des Moines—on schedule!

Learn more about roundabouts in Des Moines at the page linked in the comments!