What's New

City of Des Moines Southeast Connector
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
SE 14th Street to U.S. 65

SEConnector.com "What's New?":
Updated Questions and Answers – November 2007

What is happening with the Southeast Connector Environmental Impact Statement?

The Southeast Connector Study Team is currently completing environmental field studies along with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The environmental field studies being completed include: wetlands, identification of potential contaminated sites, and archaeological and historic properties studies. The Study Team is also coordinating with the United States Army Corps of Engineers regarding potential impacts from the alternatives to flood areas and Four-Mile Creek. Due to delays in completion of some of these studies the Study Team does not expect to finish the DEIS until the early part of 2008.

What alternatives are still under consideration?

The Study Team is still considering the Yellow Alternative and the Brown Alternative as shown on the updated alternatives map. These alternatives are being fully studied and evaluated as part of the DEIS. Having these two alternatives plus the "No-Build" alternative under study in the DEIS will allow for a more complete evaluation of the pros and cons of different alignments for the Southeast Connector. The Yellow Alternative has been identified as the Recommended Preferred Alternative at this time.

What is meant by Recommended Preferred Alternative?

The designation of the Yellow Alternative as the Recommended Preferred Alternative means that the Study Team currently believes this is the best choice for the Southeast Connector alignment. A final decision has not been made and will not be made until after the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental clearance process is completed. Members of the public will be able to comment on the Recommended Preferred Alternative and the DEIS at an official public hearing once the DEIS is released and before any final decision is made.

When is the next opportunity for the public to be involved?

Public comments and questions are always welcome via the project phone number, e-mail link, or address. These contact methods can be accessed here. The next formal public open house will most likely be after the release of the DEIS and will be the official public hearing. This is expected to occur in the early part of 2008.

Click here for a visual simulation of one possible bridge design for the Des Moines River Crossing.