South Iowa News

U.S. Representative Zach Nunn and Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen have announced that the City of Des Moines will receive a $34 million grant for transportation projects. The funding comes from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and will be used to complete the Southeast Connector Project from SE 30th in Des Moines to US 65 in Pleasant Hill.

"I am proud to have championed bringing crucial federal investment to the Southeast Connector project to support connectivity, accessibility, and safety for our community," said Rep. Nunn. "With the support from this grant funding, the project will promote continued growth and drive economic prosperity for the area."

The INFRA grant will allow for the construction of the final section of the Southeast Connector, creating a direct and continuous travel route between SE 30th Street in Des Moines and US 65 in Pleasant Hill. It will also facilitate the expansion of a critical Des Moines transload facility, offering improved access to US 65 and the Interstate, resulting in lower cost shipping for the region.

In addition, the project will enhance commuter safety by incorporating flood-mitigation infrastructure and eliminating the need to traverse several railroad crossings. It will provide two vehicular travel lanes, curbs and gutters, street lighting, a multi-use trail with green space and a shared-use path, filling a gap in the Central Iowa Trail System. Furthermore, a 1,515 foot-long, seven-span bridge over Fourmile Creek will be built.

"The City of Des Moines is beyond grateful to receive the $34 million INFRA Grant Award," said Mayor Boesen. "This funding will complete the Southeast Connector, a decades-long project that began with Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Finishing the connection from our downtown core through the eastside neighborhoods to Pleasant Hill will allow for further economic development in an underutilized industrial area. With the Southeast Connector, the City is poised to provide unique transloading services to the region, creating a freight transit hub. This project will provide greater connectivity for our residents and businesses while alleviating high traffic from other corridors in the area."

The funding announcement was made during a press conference in Des Moines, attended by Rep. Nunn and Mayor Boesen. This federal investment in the Southeast Connector project will not only improve transportation infrastructure but also drive economic growth and prosperity for the Des Moines area.