Work is getting underway on a multi-million dollar Athene Pedestrian Bridge over the Raccoon River in West Des Moines. The bridge will connect Raccoon River Park to Walnut Woods State Park, Brown’s Woods, Purple Martin Lake Water Recreation Area, Hidden Valley Soccer Complex and dozens of miles of future greenway trails. The bridge is expected to open in the fall of 2024.
• The project will include approximately 1.2 miles of paved trail from the Raccoon River Park entrance to the Hidden Valley Soccer Complex entrance along Walnut Woods Drive (SW 52nd Avenue).
• The truss bridge will be 620 linear feet long with an additional 345 linear feet of elevated ramp in Walnut Woods State Park.