DES MOINES, Iowa — It's been four years of a bumpy drive on Ingersoll Avenue, but a much-needed break from construction is finally here.
Phase four of the six-phase project wrapped up six weeks early, and businesses on Ingersoll Ave. are thrilled the road is fully open.
"My heart fluttered. It was exciting," said Vitali Kamarov, a bartender at Cheese Bar. "I walked to work, and just seeing all the way down Ingersoll being clear was just a great relief."
The project is replacing aging road pavement, adding raised bike lanes, paved parking stalls and more storm sewers.
Businesses along Ingersoll Ave. say foot traffic slowed down because of the construction, but now that the road has re-opened, they're already seeing more people come through their doors.
"Kind of like a deep sigh of relief," said Briana Ketelsen and Ophelia Carlson, bartenders at Wellman's Pub. "Absolutely, it just feels good, it feels back to normal."
"100% our patio has started to be more full because there's less construction noise and dust," Kamarov said.
The next phase of the project is expected to impact the road between 31st and 35th streets, but businesses in the heart of construction are celebrating the open road while it lasts.
"Little thing tonight, we have live music tonight, like a little end of construction," Ketelsen and Carlson said. "We have some deals; people are coming in."
Currently, construction on Ingersoll Ave. isn't expected to begin again until 2026.
The project first began in 2020 with the overall goal of improving the road's safety and making it more walkable.
