City to fill 180 miles of gaps in Des Moines' sidewalk system
Work is underway in Des Moines on a project to fill nearly 200 miles of gaps in the city sidewalk system.
The 20-year project will fill in 180 miles worth of gaps across the city, with a focus on bus stops and schools.
For some, streets without sidewalks make daily travel dangerous.
“A small pothole, a small crack, if I hit at the wrong speed without paying attention I can get seriously hurt,” said Emmanuel Smith, an advocate with Disability Rights Iowa.
Smith, who lives with a condition called "brittle bones disease," said he relies on Des Moines sidewalks to get around safely.
He said stretches of Des Moines' roads without sidewalks make it difficult to get around.
“I can't always plan with confidence that I’m going to have a clear route from point A to point B,” he said
AARP State Director Brad Anderson said older residents will also benefit from the improvements.
“That makes them healthier, but it also ... it has added benefits like preventing social isolation and other challenges that really face our membership,” Anderson said.
The plan is to have sidewalks on at least one side of the neighborhood streets that really need them.
The project will cost around $60 million over two decades.
Smith said he is ready for the changes to be completed.
“Not just people with disabilities, but all folks will benefit from that progress,” Smith said.