Traffic diverter on SE Ankeny & 15th is in progress

I saw the markings for the replacement plastic poles on the diverter on Ankeny today too.

great news! I rode down Ankeny yesterday and I am thrilled to see some progress. I really wish the City would get serious about 11th/Sandy, though. Traffic from south bound 12th can take the corner at Sandy at a very high speed come flying down the hill toward the intersection with Ankeny. IMO, it would be much safer to make the stretch of Sandy between 11th and 12th one-way ne-bound and convert the sw-bound lane to back-in angled parking. South-bound traffic on 12th would be routed down couch to 11th. Paikala (frequesnt commenter here) has suggested a roundabout at 11th and Ankeny which sounds great to me.

The temporary diverter (and one at N Holman/Mississippi) with use 2 foot tall concrete rings, repurposed from usual manhole construction, so will be less restrictive in terms of visibility.

I can’t tell from the markings what it will actually be like. Can anybody elaborate? Will traffic be able to illegally bypass it if it wants, like that stupid one at SE 32nd & Clinton, or will it be more like a true diverter?

I ride Ankeny everyday and have for years. The places were cut through traffic is the worst is not addressed by this diverter. I more often see cut through traffic on Davis East of 60th, turning north off Burnside at 42nd, cental catholic kids/staff commuting to school on the bike lane from 39ths on up.

I do think that Ankeny is pretty safe (or at least has been). Only one near death experience at Sandy which chastened me. However there are now thousands of new residents living down on lower Burnside and the street is changing fast.

Hopefully this and future additions will keep it safe.

One thing to consider. The stretch of Ankeny between 20th and 28th will have added about 175 new housing units between 2014-2017. This should increase the number of people using bikes (yeah!) but also will increase the number of cars on the street (boo!). I won’t be surprised if we are talking about conflicts on this stretch in the coming years.