West Des Moines covers a lot of ground and the driving varies enormously across it. Highway commuting on the west side, dense retail traffic around the shopping corridors, and older residential streets in Valley Junction.
The vehicles reflect that spread. Newer commuter cars on one side and a lot of well-kept older vehicles in the historic neighborhoods, and those need different things from us.
How the roads run around West Des Moines
I-235 and I-35 both run through, and the interchanges carry heavy volume at peak. Jordan Creek Parkway and Mills Civic Parkway serve the newer western development.
Grand Avenue and Fifth Street run through Valley Junction, where the streets are older and narrower and parking is tighter than anywhere else in the city.
Is highway commuting easier on a car than city driving?
Generally yes for the engine and transmission, and not for tires and suspension. Interstate expansion joints and winter patching take a toll that shows up as alignment and tire wear.
My car pulls slightly to one side on the interstate.
Alignment, a tire issue, or a worn suspension component. It is worth sorting quickly because a pull eats a set of tires far faster than the alignment costs to correct.