Politics
Des Moines City Council Approves FY2027 Budget with $3.2 Million Added for Street Resurfacing, Shortening Repair Wait Times on Neighborhood Roads
The allocation takes effect July 1 and will send crews to resurface segments of University Avenue and Douglas Avenue by October.
How we reported this
The Des Moines City Council passed the fiscal year 2027 operating budget on June 22, directing an extra $3.2 million to the Public Works Department for asphalt resurfacing and pothole crews. The measure applies to all city-maintained streets inside the municipal limits and covers work orders submitted through the 311 system.
Street conditions have drawn repeated complaints at council meetings since March, when Public Works logged 4,800 service requests tied to winter damage. The new line item increases the resurfacing target from 28 lane-miles to 41 lane-miles for the coming year.
Daily Effects for Residents
Commuters who drive Douglas Avenue between Merle Hay Road and 2nd Avenue will see crews replace worn pavement sections beginning in late July. Homeowners on adjacent blocks can expect temporary lane closures between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, with detours posted on the city website.
Vehicle owners in Beaverdale and Highland Park stand to reduce annual tire and alignment costs once the scheduled segments are complete. City fleet records show that repeated pothole strikes account for roughly one in seven repair orders submitted by municipal employees each spring.
The budget document released June 15 lists the city’s total road network at 1,248 centerline miles. Of those, 187 miles currently carry a pavement condition index below 60, the threshold used by Public Works to prioritize work.
Timeline and Next Steps
Residents can track individual work orders on the city’s online map, which updates nightly. The government projects that all funded projects will reach substantial completion by November 30.
Property owners who wish to request a specific block for evaluation must file through the 311 portal by August 15. Public Works will issue a written response within 10 business days stating whether the location meets the resurfacing criteria set in the adopted budget.