DES MOINES, Iowa — There are plenty of reasons that Des Moines drivers might find themselves on Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, whether they are headed home after a long day of work or finding something to do downtown.
"It's a busy area here along MLK, and especially when there's special events happening, the Downtown Farmers' Market, Principal [Park] ballgames. It can get pretty busy around here," said Jim McClung, a Des Moines resident.
The north lane of MLK will be closed from SW 15th St to SW 2nd St. However, the south lane will allow two-way traffic to help compensate.
"We just appreciate everybody's patience and understanding and try to find alternate routes, we know that there's events going on and high traffic areas, high pedestrian traffic," said Melissa Schlickbernd, Wastewater Facilities Engineer for the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority.
So why is the road being closed in the first place?
It's to comply with a mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency, reducing storm overflow from Des Moines's sewer system.
"We are installing a new sanitary sewer line underneath the north plains of MLK to direct that flow directly to the wastewater plant were it will be properly treated, and then discharged to the river, thereby improving the water quality of our rivers," Schlickbernd said.
Officials with the city say that intersections along MLK will still be open, aside from a brief closure on SW 2nd St while they are installing the sewer lines. It might not be ideal, but residents who spoke to Local 5 were happy to be flexible.
"MLK makes it convenient to travel through Des Moines for sure, so it's going to hurt to have to have it narrowed down, but it's the price of progress," McClung said.
The lane reduction is currently expected to last until December 2024.
A fuller look at the map is available here.