Athene Pedestrian Bridge | West Des Moines, Iowa

Custom Solutions Drive a New Bridge Design for Community Connection

West Des Moines, Iowa

Bridging Communities with Innovative Concrete Design

In West Des Moines, the Athene Pedestrian Bridge connects Raccoon River Park to Walnut Woods State Park, enhancing accessibility between the two popular recreation areas. The impressive new bridge project includes a stunning central pier—designed in a champagne-glass shape—that captures attention and balances style with function. The unique bridge design required innovative concrete formwork for the bridge piers, abutments, and concrete bridge deck. Herberger Construction, with over 60 years of experience in bridge construction, was selected to bring this design to life.

Herberger Construction Relies on EFCO’s Custom Solutions

For this complex build, Herberger turned to EFCO for the project’s specialized formwork needs. The central pier of the bridge needed special concrete forms to create its unique champagne-glass shape. EFCO designed these custom forms to handle the pier’s curves and angles, reducing the need for extra carpentry and speeding up construction. Herberger Construction used these forms to build large sections on the ground, then lifted them into place with cranes. This method kept the work organized.

EFCO’s Game-Changing Products: Transforming Ideas into Reality

In addition to the custom formwork for the unique central pier, the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project
used EFCO’s REDI-RADIUS® system, PLATE GIRDER®, Round Column®, and E-Z DECK® platform. The
REDI-RADIUS® system helped form the bridge’s curved sections, making it easier and faster to create smooth, rounded shapes without needing fully customized forms. The E-Z DECK platform provided a safe and sturdy workspace, allowing workers to move efficiently at height while keeping safety a top priority. Together, these systems helped Herberger Construction save time, reduce costs, and ensure a high-quality finish throughout the project.

Overcoming Unique Construction Challenges Together

EFCO’s hands-on approach managed the project’s complexity, with team members making multiple site visits to troubleshoot and optimize in real-time. This dedication to Super Service and Integrity meant that EFCO was deeply involved in solving challenges as they arose. For the tight workspace, EFCO’s modular formwork allowed sections to be assembled on the ground and then craned into place, maximizing efficiency and minimizing on-site labor.

Why Herberger Construction Chose EFCO

Herberger Construction’s enduring relationship with EFCO reflects trust and a shared focus on quality and innovation. As Dean Herberger put it, “Without EFCO, we wouldn’t even have bid this job.” EFCO’s commitment to providing the Lowest In-Place Concrete Cost (LIPCC), alongside its dedication to Quality, Innovation, and Super Service, enabled Herberger to bring this vision to life. This strong partnership not only enhanced a longstanding relationship but also contributed to a stronger future for the community, embodying EFCO’s core values of integrity and excellence.

We partnered with EFCO early in the bidding process for this project, knowing their expertise would be crucial. Frankly, we weren’t interested in moving forward unless EFCO could design and deliver the specialized forms needed to shape the complex, curved sides of the center pier. Beyond the labor savings from having these custom-built components, EFCO’s unwavering support and service were instrumental in helping us complete this project efficiently and on schedule.

-Dennis and Dean Herberger, Owners