DES MOINES, Iowa — The Highland Park and Oak Park Neighborhood in Des Moines is under a new pilot construction project because of excessive speed and accidents along a busy road.
The city decided to change Euclid Avenue between the 2nd and 12th Avenues to have three lanes instead of four, using the middle one as a turning lane. The extra space is now used for parking.
Sherri Rosener, president of the Highland Park Oak Park Neighborhood Association, said the purpose of the project was to help make the street safer.
"Slow the traffic down. It’s 30 miles through here and a lot of traffic is going 40 miles an hour or up,” Rosener said.
At Hiland Bakery, assistant manager Makayla Dillinger said the project has stirred customers away.
“The progress for the construction, at the end of it, will be worth it," said Dillinger. "The hassle of going through it is not very great.”
Down the road is the antique shop, Jenny's Attic.
Mary Bramon is a clerk at the shop. She agreed people need to slow down.
"I see accidents daily," explained Bramon. “That could be your mother you’re running over in their wheelchair! That could be your neighbor. This is a neighborhood community.”
Bramon said the added parking on Euclid makes it easier for customers to shop at Jenny's Attic
The project began in July, but there seems to be mixed feelings among the community.
“There’s a lot of people that are against it. I know there are people that have done a petition to try and get this to change back. On the flip side, there are a lot of people that are for it. Hopefully, it gets better," said Rosener. "If it doesn’t, we’ll go back.”
The petition to change the road back can be found by clicking/tapping here.