US 6 through the Des Moines metro area, and especially from Merle Hay Road to Altoona, can be a slog. But it remains an important corridor through Des Moines’ neglected north side.
Unfortunately, the proposed solution for redevelopment of the corridor relies on making drivers hate it. According to the Register:
“The goal is to definitely slow down traffic,” Peters said. “We absolutely heard that from the residents and business owners.”
The group is also studying whether a roundabout at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Beaver Avenue would help calm traffic.
A large PDF shows the extended plan. The Register says planners expect it to take a decade. Douglas is under DOT control, but the state has shown intense interest in shifting many similar corridors to three lanes. Earlier this year, the Des Moines City Council approved a three-lane plan on Euclid Avenue, the part of US 6 east of the Des Moines River.