Waukee Aerial

Another aerial update from the fast-growing Grand Prairie Parkway & Kettlestone area in Waukee.

With the snow finally gone, Waukee Aerial was able to get back up in the air this week to capture progress on the new retail buildings going up at Kettlestone Lakes.

This project sits within the larger Kettlestone development corridor, a long-term vision for Waukee that will bring together restaurants, retail, offices, housing, and entertainment in one of the fastest-growing areas of the metro.

A couple interesting notes about the project:

• Kettlestone Lakes is part of Waukee’s larger Kettlestone master plan designed to create a major commercial and lifestyle district on the west side of the city.
• The development is planned to include retail, restaurants, medical offices, and service businesses serving the rapidly growing surrounding neighborhoods.
• With new roads, utilities, and infrastructure already in place, this corridor is quickly becoming one of the most active construction areas in the Des Moines metro.

From the air you can really see the progress taking shape — building shells, parking lots, and site work are all moving along quickly.

With the snow finally melted, we were able to get back out to capture fresh aerial imagery of the I-80 / I-35 / Hickman Road interchange reconstruction in the Des Moines metro.

This massive Iowa DOT project is transforming one of the busiest corridors in the region, modernizing the interchange to improve safety and prepare for traffic volumes expected to grow significantly over the next two decades. The scale of work here is impressive, with new bridges, roadway reconstruction, and major improvements to the surrounding transportation network.

One of the most exciting updates from last week was the placement of two new pedestrian bridges over the interstate ramps. These bridges will help connect the Clive Greenbelt Trail and surrounding trail systems, giving cyclists and pedestrians a safe way to cross the interchange while keeping them separated from high-speed traffic.

🍔 The new Steak ‘n Shake is officially under construction just north of University Avenue. The site will feature a drive-thru, outdoor patio, and plenty of parking — a welcome addition to one of Waukee’s busiest corridors.

We’ve heard your comments loud and clear — Waukee needs more sit-down and fine-dining options, and we couldn’t agree more! While Steak ‘n Shake adds some variety, we’re especially excited about what’s still to come in Kettlestone Central and Waukee Towne Center, where even more restaurants and retail are in the works.

Our drones will keep flying over these areas as construction continues — so stay tuned right here for updates as Waukee keeps growing upward and outward! 🌆

📸 Captured by Waukee Aerial — keeping you up to date from above.