The city of Des Moines Engineering Department has released timing and details on two major road repaving projects in Beaverdale this summer. The condition of both roads has deteriorated badly, resulting in many potholes, cracks, bumps and a generally unpleasant ride for motorists.

The first project will repave Hickman Road between Beaver Avenue and Merle Hay Road. The city council awarded the contract to Grimes Asphalt and Paving Company. The project is scheduled to start Friday, June 5th and take a little more than a month to complete. Electronic message boards notifying motorists of the project will be put up one week in advance. A city letter to property owners along Hickman said the project “includes pavement patching in select areas as well as the mill and overlay (removal of the top 3-inches) of the asphalt pavement…”

The work will be done in five stages, starting at Merle Hay Road and moving east along Hickman. The city says that during construction, the road will be closed to through traffic although local access will be maintained. Property owners will receive one to two days notices before the road is closed along their property.

Here is a map that shows the construction stages and their tentative start dates, which will depend on weather conditions.

The Beaver Avenue repaving project will begin as soon as Hickman is completed. The project is scheduled to begin Monday, July 13, depending on the weather. It will be completed in three stages, starting at Franklin Avenue and proceeding north to Hickman Road. Stage 2 will be from Fagen Drive to Ovid Avenue and stage 3 will be from Ovid north to Douglas Avenue. Stage three is scheduled to begin July 27th.

Here is a map that shows the construction plans for Beaver Avenue. The project will involve the same work as along Hickman Road, patching the pavement in some areas, grinding off the top 3 inches of asphalt, and putting down a new top layer of asphalt. Beaver will be closed to through traffic during construction, however local access will continue to be maintained.

After the repaving is done along each road, the contractor will return to adjust manhole lids and stripe lane markings. Although lanes will be closed during this work. the roads will remain open.