The Iowa DOT has scheduled a meeting Tuesday to “discuss proposed improvements of U.S. 69” between I-80 and the south side of Ankeny. There’s nothing else mentioned on the PIM page, but this pretty much has to be about upgrading US 69 to four lanes/five with a center-turn-lane there.
That’s right, Northeast 14th Street between Des Moines and Ankeny has yet to be upgraded to a continuous four-lane urban arterial. It was surprising a decade ago and overdue now. The road is in the about 3 1/2-mile deep portion of central Polk County that was never annexed by Des Moines and hasn’t yet by Ankeny — perhaps because it’s the entire span of the Saydel school district.
Looking at the northernmost aerial photo, you can see the abrupt change from Ankeny’s sprawl to the residences with deep backyards that have been lining the road forever (or at least the ’50s).