West DSM News

At their Feb. 21 meeting, the Waukee City Council unanimously approved plans for a construction contract to extend the Heart of the Warrior Trail and add signage.

They put the project out for bid on Feb. 8 and got nine bidders, which was a good opening; Matt Jermier, Parks and Recreation director, told the council. The engineer’s estimate was $126,194, and Caliber Concrete was the lowest bidder at $88,210.75.

“We have communicated with Caliber,” Jermier said in the meeting. “They are well aware of the project and all the details with the project. They’ve also done the trail connection north of Waukee High School. So they are well aware of this railroad right of way and what they’re going to entail there. But we do feel comfortable with Caliber Concrete.”

The estimated cost of the project includes removal of pavement, trail paving, restoration and traffic control. The trail is paved and runs through most of the major neighborhoods and areas of the city of Waukee. The City has been discussing extension of the trail since 2021. The trail has expanded over the years, going across Alice Street and connecting to Clive’s Greenbelt Trail in Lions Park. It is a total of three miles through Waukee, but the expansion has it crossing over Sixth Street with a pedestrian crossing.

There will be 260,000 square yards of pavement for removal. The project includes sidewalks on either side of Sixth Street that will be made ADA complaint. The extension will go further west and have a connection to the currently developing retail center on the north side of the trail.

“It is anticipated in the future that this will continue to go west when the properties here at 10th Street are defined,” Jermier said. The City can then make official decisions and property lines to extend the Warrior Trail further.

The City also discussed putting up signage. Jermier noted that for the extension of Sunrise Drive, approval was needed to cross the street, which requires a level of signage and signalization.

“We are planning to put signage up at this location primarily because it is not an exit or a through to the Raccoon River Valley Trail,” Jermier said. “They’re going to want to go north there instead of crossing unless they're going to that Hickman Retail Center. So there'll be additional signage put there.”

Four votes were required for passage. The plans and construction were approved by a 5-0 vote, and the project was awarded to Caliber Concrete.