Asphalt Paving in West Des Moines, IA

Asphalt paving in West Des Moines means working on pavement of every age. The town incorporated as Valley Junction in 1893, took the name West Des Moines on January 1, 1938, and had just 5,615 residents in 1950. It passed 21,000 in 1980, 46,403 in 2000 and 68,723 in 2020, and the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate is 74,224. Each wave of growth added streets and driveways: older homes near Valley Junction, mid-century ranches and split-levels, 1990s and 2000s subdivisions to the west and south, and new construction still going in at the edges.

Older neighborhoods near Valley Junction

The preserved original business district at Historic Valley Junction is surrounded by some of the oldest homes in the city. Driveways here are narrow and often have been patched or overlaid more than once. We check heights at the garage and walk, look at whether the base has failed, and recommend repair, resurfacing or full removal accordingly.

Subdivisions from the 1980s through 2000s

Much of West Des Moines was built in these decades. Driveways from that era are 20 to 40 years old: many have scattered cracks, a few failed spots and a faded surface. Some just need crack filling and sealing; others are ready for replacement. A lot of these neighborhoods have homeowners associations, and we can price multiple homes or shared private drives together.

Owners and renters

Census figures show 57.4 percent of West Des Moines homes are owner-occupied, with a median value of $309,000, and 80.1 percent of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. Apartment and townhome communities make up a big share of the rest, and their lots and private drives need regular patching, sealing and restriping.

The right-of-way permit

The curb cut and approach between the street and the sidewalk are public right-of-way. The City's right-of-way application lists a $50 fee for sidewalk and approach work and a $200 deposit for all right-of-way work. Contractors must give Engineering 24 hours' notice before opening or backfilling and Public Services 48 hours' notice before any street or lane closure, and the permit must be on site. Most driveway replacements that tie into an existing approach do not need it; widening the curb cut does. We sort that out at the estimate.

Floodplain lessons

The Raccoon River and Walnut Creek have repeatedly flooded parts of the city, and a floodwall was built along Walnut Creek near the Des Moines boundary after the 1993 flood. For pavement, the lesson is the same everywhere: water under asphalt destroys it. We build in slope and drainage on every job.

Commercial and retail

Jordan Creek Town Center opened in 2004, and offices and retail spread along the interstates that were built in the 1960s. Lots in these areas get heavy traffic and plowing. We mill and overlay, rebuild failed areas, seal and restripe in phases so businesses stay open.

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