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vlog Investigates: ‘Herculean effort’ gets Fleur Drive a step away from being construction-free

vlog Investigates: ‘Herculean effort’ gets Fleur Drive a step away from being construction-free
vlog EIGHT NEWS AT SIX. NEW AT SIX. MAKING PROGRESS. THERE’S JUST ONE STEP LEFT BEFORE CONSTRUCTION ON FLEUR DRIVE IS FINISHED. THAT’S GOOD NEWS. FIRST NATIONAL TEAM AND vlog HAVE REPORTED THIS WEEK ON THE CONDITIONS OF ROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE IMPACT ON FOLKS WHO OWN A CAR. CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SUZANNE BEHNKE REPORTS ON DES MOINES YEARS LONG EFFORT TO IMPROVE ROADS LIKE FLEUR DRIVE. GOOD NEWS FOR IOWA DRIVERS. 59% OF ROADS IN THE STATE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL DATA. DES MOINES THAT HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. THERE’S 2200 MILES OF ROADWAY. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR JONATHAN GANO SAYS STREETS BECAME HIS TOP PRIORITY WHEN HE CAME TO DES MOINES TEN YEARS AGO. THAT WAS TOPIC NUMBER ONE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING THAT I WENT TO WAS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROADS. THE CITY BEGAN PUTTING MORE FUNDING TOWARD STREETS, GANO SAYS, AND NOT JUST FOR MAINTENANCE. THE RESULT SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES TO MAJOR ROADS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE OF THE KEY PROJECTS SPRUCING UP FLEUR DRIVE FLEUR DRIVE IS IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD AS THE GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN DES MOINES. FOR EVERY OUT-OF-TOWN VISITOR THAT FLIES IN, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEIR NEXT DESTINATION IS A DRIVE DOWN FLEUR DRIVE TO GET TO DOWNTOWN THAT’S NEARING THE FINISH LINE. IT WAS A BIGGER PROJECT THAN ANTICIPATED. THE ASPHALT UNDERNEATH HAD CRUMBLED. YEAH, IMAGINE THE PULLING UP THE CARPET AND FINDING THE FLOORBOARDS ARE ROTTEN UNDERNEATH. THAT’S WHAT WE DISCOVERED ON FLEUR DRIVE IN 2016. SUZANNE B
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Updated: 7:27 AM CDT Jun 13, 2025
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vlog Investigates: ‘Herculean effort’ gets Fleur Drive a step away from being construction-free
vlog logo
Updated: 7:27 AM CDT Jun 13, 2025
Editorial Standards
In Iowa, 59 percent of roads are in good condition, according to national data.That hasn’t always been the case in Des Moines, which has 2,200 miles of roads.“That was a topic No. 1 at every neighborhood association meeting that I went to, which was to do something about the roads,” said Jonathan Gano, the director of Des Moines’ public works department.More funding made progress possible, he said.One of the key projects – sprucing up Fleur Drive — is one step from the finish line.“Fleur Drive is commonly understood as the gateway to downtown Des Moines. For every out-of-town visitor that flies in, more often than not, their next destination is a drive through Fleur Drive to get downtown,” Gano said.That’s notable since the project was more serious than first thought.Crews pulled up the surface and found that the asphalt underneath was crumbling.“Imagine they’re pulling up the carpet and finding the floorboards are rotting underneath. That’s what we discovered on Fleur Drive in 2016,” Gano said. He said it’s been a “Herculean task” to get that project to completion.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

In Iowa, 59 percent of roads are in good condition, according to national data.

That hasn’t always been the case in Des Moines, which has 2,200 miles of roads.

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“That was a topic No. 1 at every neighborhood association meeting that I went to, which was to do something about the roads,” said Jonathan Gano, the director of Des Moines’ public works department.

More funding made progress possible, he said.

One of the key projects – sprucing up Fleur Drive — is one step from the finish line.

“Fleur Drive is commonly understood as the gateway to downtown Des Moines. For every out-of-town visitor that flies in, more often than not, their next destination is a drive through Fleur Drive to get downtown,” Gano said.

That’s notable since the project was more serious than first thought.

Crews pulled up the surface and found that the asphalt underneath was crumbling.

“Imagine they’re pulling up the carpet and finding the floorboards are rotting underneath. That’s what we discovered on Fleur Drive in 2016,” Gano said.

He said it’s been a “Herculean task” to get that project to completion.

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