Bondurant Could Reroute Parts Of Chichaqua Valley Trail

A safer and straighter route could be coming for cyclists who ride the Chichaqua Valley Trail (CVT) through Bondurant. The City of Bondurant hopes to reroute the popular trail in two different sections where land is now available.

Downtown Area

The trail follows an abandoned rail line through the city, generally at a southwest to northeast direction. However, the trail’s straight line is broken near downtown, bypassing the former Landus Cooperative property between Main St. SE and 2^nd St. NE.

The city told DSM Bike Notes it plans to purchase some of the old Landus property, allowing it to reroute and straighten the CVT. If completed, the trail would follow the old rail line and link up with the current trail route at 2^nd St. NE.

The realigned CVT is part of Bondurant’s ambitious Grain District Redevelopment Plan, which would expand the city’s downtown farther to the north. The trail would run right though the heart of the Grain District, which the city hopes will spark reinvestment in the original neighborhoods of the now-booming suburb.

East of Highway 65

The city also hopes to straighten the CVT on Bondurant’s northeast side. This section is just east of Highway 65, where the trail curves north to follow the highway, intersects with Alexander Pkwy. NE, and turns sharply to the south to go around an industrial area before the trail continues following the former rail line.

The city told DSM Bike Notes that Landus donated land just south of the industrial area to the city. Acquiring that land allows the city to reroute the CVT in a straight line along the abandoned railway, undoing the need for the current bypass.

“This is becoming increasingly important as the current CVT route in this area is situated adjacent to the busy Highway 65 corridor, and the city is continuing to see increasing demand for industrial development along this portion of Highway 65,” wrote Katie Klus, Communications & Events Coordinator for the City of Bondurant.

Klus said the new route would also make the CVT safer, eliminating the intersection with Alexander Pkwy. NE, where vehicles go in and out of the industrial area.

Benefits to Riders

DSM Bike Notes spoke with cyclists near the Bondurant Regional Trailhead about the plans for the CVT. All were supportive of the changes to a trail they already enjoy.

“It’s very exciting. If you can avoid having to ride along roads or cross roads, that’s always a benefit,” said Jim Ellefson of Des Moines.

He and his wife Heidi ride the trail several times a week, and said they enjoy stopping at several Bondurant businesses, like Founders Irish Pub and Home Slice Handmade Pies.

“It’s just a cycling-friendly community,” Ellefson said.

Marion Chenhall of Ames said she enjoys the versatility of the CVT.

“You can go to Des Moines, to Copper Creek Lake, you can go east,” she said. “If you want to stop you’ve got restaurants here. There’s a lot of options.”

Klus said biking is extremely important to the city’s culture and economy. Bondurant’s master plan for parks, trails and greenways, adapted by the city council earlier this year, recommends attracting more businesses to serve CVT cyclists.

What’s Next

Klus said there is no solid timeline for when construction could begin on either section. She said the city expects to take ownership of the downtown land by April of 2025, and hopes to begin construction later that year, or in 2026.

As for the section east of Highway 65, Klus said the city has secured a $250,000 grant from the Iowa DNR, but it could take a while to access that money.

CVT Basics

According to Friends of Chichaqua Valley Trail, the CVT was established in 1987, three years after the rail line was abandoned. The western end of the trail begins just east of I-235 and Broadway (near the East Mixmaster) and runs about thirty miles to the northeast, ending in the Jasper County town of Baxter.

Week 2 of DSM Bike Notes!

Gobble gobble, you’ve just read the second installation of DSM Bike Notes! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the show of support I’ve received so far. The number of subscribers (aside from family and friends forced into it) has exceeded my expectations. And it was really great to meet a subscriber already — Jim Ellefson, who was quoted in the story above! Hi, Jim!

Today is Thanksgiving, and it’s fitting. I am genuinely so thankful for everyone who is already reading and those who have messaged me their story ideas. As a reminder, I am fully launching DSM Bike Notes in early January — with a weekly email newsletter on Thursdays, featuring a handful of original stories specifically about cycling in the Des Moines area. Please subscribe and share with your biking buddies so they can do the same.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Zach