Interstate 235
Interstate 235 is a 13.83 mile long urban loop running to Downtown Des Moines between West Des Moines and Ankeny. It was named after John MacVicar in the 1960s after a father and son duo that held both the streets commissioner and mayor offices off and on between 1896-1948.1 Completely rebuilt between 2003-07,1 I-235 is at least six lanes wide throughout.
Interstate 235 Iowa Guides
Interstate 235 was part of the Des Moines freeway plan supported in a vote by the Des Moines City Council in 1957. The Federal Bureau of Public Roads followed with final approval of the project to construct what would be I-235, a $54 million investment. Design of the route was completed in 1958 and the freeway opened in stages between December 14, 1961 and October 30, 1968. The 1.2 mile long segment between Cottage Grove Avenue to 12th Street opened first.2
Interstate 235 reconstruction included the following projects:
- Reconstruction of the Exit 1 B (Valley West Drive) parclo interchange.
- Replacement of the Polk Boulevard overpasses
- Redesign of the Cottage Grove Avenue / Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway interchange
- Widen the Des Moines River Bridge
- Redesign the 2nd Avenue interchange
- Redesign the E 6th Avenue / Penn Avenue interchange
- Redesign of the U.S. 6 (Euclid Avenue) interchange
- Redesign the Keo Way interchange
- Redesign of the 5th/6th/7th Avenue interchange
- Redesign of the 14th/15th Street interchange
- Rebuilding of Interstate 235 at University Avenue and the associated interchange, including relocating the westbound roadway to run parallel to the eastbound roadway.
References:
http://www.i235.com/, project web site.- "Rebuilding I-235 - A Better Road Ahead."
http://www.i235.com/factoids.pdfIowa Department of Transportation.
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Page Updated Monday February 26, 2024.