West DSM News

School is just around the corner, which means many children walking, biking and skateboarding to school. It also means traffic patterns will shift for school drop-off and pick-up. Allow extra time for travel, be patient and pay close attention to your surroundings, especially during the first couple weeks of school. 

Be aware of several street projects that may impact your route, and take a minute to review safety tips, including when to stop or go near school buses. It's a good time to remind family and friends to put down the phone and avoid other distractions while driving. 

Waukee Road Projects

Note these changes and closures as you plan your route.  

Ashworth Road

• A new traffic signal will be in place at the intersection of Ute Avenue and Ashworth Road Thursday, August 18. 
• Ashworth Road will be open west of Ute Ave. by August 23 for school traffic to Sugar Creek Elementary.
• Ashworth Road, east of Grand Prairie Parkway to Ute Avenue, is expected to open in mid to late September. 
• Continue to allow extra travel time in this area. Lane shifts and signal head adjustments will occur as the project progresses. 

Warrior Lane 

• As of August 12, Warrior Lane is closed to traffic from Ford Lane/Park Road to the new Middle School entrance. 
• All access to Waukee Middle School and the Waukee Public Library will be from the north until project completion in November.

NE Douglas Extension

• NE Douglas Parkway from N Warrior Lane to NE Badger Lane is scheduled to open to traffic by Friday, August 19.

NE Alice’s Road (170th St) + Meredith Drive

• The 170th Street and Meredith Drive intersection is closed for reconstruction. 
• Updates on Urbandale’s NE Alice’s Road (170th Street) Improvement project can be viewed at Urbandale.org.

Visit waukee.org for full details on street closures and road projects. You can sign up for News Flash to be alerted by email or text for street closures. 

Safety Reminders

Be extra attentive during school drop-off and pick-up windows when street traffic will be most congested and pedestrian traffic will be high.

• Watch for school zones and signs indicating reduced speed limits.
• Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk or intersection.
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
• Watch for children around parked or stopped cars.
• Be careful not to block entrances to schools, buildings or intersections while waiting. It’s important to keep access clear for emergency vehicles.

When to stop for school buses

• When you see flashing red or amber warning lights on a school bus, stop no closer than 15 feet. Remain stopped until the stop arm retracts and the school bus starts moving. 
• When approaching a from the front, stop in front of the school bus when it stops and the stop arm is extended. Remain stopped until the stop arm is retracted and proceed with caution.

More information on school bus safety at (iowadot.gov).

Thank you for doing your part to keep roads safe for the kids! 

Original source can be found here.