Redesigned Beaver Bend is open

The redesigned intersection of Beaver Avenue and 41st Street has opened ahead of schedule.

View looking south from Price Chopper sidewalk. 6-8-2025

Dry weather allowed the construction crew to finish the work earlier than expected. Although a few orange cones remain, southbound traffic on Beaver Avenue now slows to make a right turn to continue southbound on 41st Street. And northbound traffic on 41st Street will now bend to the right, encountering a T-intersection with better sight lines.

View looking northbound on 41st Street toward new realignment 6-8-2025

The goal was to eliminate the awkward sight line to the right for northbound motorists, as well as reduce the guesswork required to determine whether southbound vehicles would continue south or bend to the southeast.

The city of Des Moines contracted out the project after receiving money from the Iowa Department of Transportation, which had rated the intersection a dangerous one that could be improved.

The realigned traffic lanes required purchase and demolition of a former service station that had been a restaurant and bar in more recent decades.  

Both lanes into Snookie's Malt Shop are now open to Beaver Avenue. There's a large open area between the intersection and Snookie's, which will be planted with grass.

Open area between Snookie's and intersectipon 6-8-2025

The intersection had been closed for several months to facilitate construction work.