As 2022 roadwork wraps up, city highlights progress, previews what’s next

The forecast confirms it’s officially the end of road construction season, which means the city of Sioux Falls is starting to plan for next season, which will bring a continuation of some major projects along with some key new ones.

Here’s a look at some of the many improvements made this year and what’s ahead in 2023.

41st Street & I-29 interchange

This project is reconstructing the interchange at 41st Street and Interstate 29 into a diverging diamond. This will allow both left turns and right turns from 41st onto the interstate to occur without having to cross opposing lanes of traffic.

This is accomplished by crossing traffic over to the opposite side of the street through the interchange. This results in fewer accidents, and the accidents that do happen are less severe. Diverging diamonds also increase the traffic capacity and efficiency of the interchange.

In 2022, 41st between I-29 and Marion Road was reconstructed and widened to three lanes in each direction.

In 2023, the interchange itself and 41st between I-29 and Shirley Avenue will be reconstructed. Additional information on the 41st Street project, including information on diverging diamonds, what the interchange will look like and how traffic flows through a diverging diamond, is available at 41stddi.com.

Arrowhead Parkway and Six Mile Road

This project is reconstructing Arrowhead Parkway east and west of Six Mile Road for approximately one-half mile, as well as reconstructing and realigning Six Mile Road north and south of Arrowhead for approximately one-quarter mile.

Arrowhead and Six Mile will be widened to two lanes in each direction with a center median. Six Mile Road was realigned to intersect Arrowhead closer to a 90-degree angle, which makes the newly reconstructed intersection much safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

This year, work on Six Mile Road was completed, as well as about half  the work on Arrowhead Parkway.

The remainder of Arrowhead will be constructed in 2023.

Cliff Avenue: 49th to 56th streets

This project reconstructed and widened Cliff Avenue to two lanes in each direction between 49th and 56th streets.

Before construction, Cliff had two northbound lanes in this segment but only one southbound lane.

This created a traffic bottleneck for southbound traffic during the afternoon rush hour.  The expanded roadway will increase traffic capacity and efficiency in this area.

Marion Road, Foundation Court to 259th Street

This project was the first phase of a multiyear project to reconstruct and pave Marion Road from Foundation Court just north of Amazon to 258th Street, also known as the Crooks/Renner Road.

Construction this year added water main and pavement on Marion from Foundation Court to 259th Street and also added water main and pavement on 259th from Marion east across the BNSF railroad tracks, or approximately one-quarter mile.

Future phases will add water main and pavement north 1 mile to the Crooks/Renner Road and likely will be divided into two phases over the next few years.

Minnesota Avenue, Russell to Second streets

This project was the first phase of a multiyear project to reconstruct the utilities and pavement on Minnesota Avenue between Russell and 18th streets.

Construction this year occurred between Russell and Second streets and included replacing the largest-diameter pipe in the city’s water distribution network — 42-inch diameter. Work included new underground utilities, concrete surfacing, a center median, streetscape elements and decorative lighting.

All lanes of the project are now open to traffic, but streetscape and lighting work will occur in the spring of 2023. Future phases from Second to 18th streets will occur over the next several years.

41st Street and Sycamore Avenue

Work on this project included the complete reconstruction and widening of the intersection of 41st Street and Sycamore Avenue, as well as an asphalt mill and overlay on Sycamore between 26th and 57th streets.

Sycamore was widened at the 41st Street intersection to include a left turn lane, and 41st was widened to two lanes in each direction with a center median.

These improvements will improve significantly the traffic capacity and efficiency of this intersection.

Sneak peek at 2023

The coming construction year will involve wrapping up several major projects and tackling new ones. Here’s a preview at what’s ahead:

Continuation of work on the 41st Street and I-29 interchange. Most work will be complete by the end of the 2023 construction season, but the project will not be fully complete until the spring of 2024.  More information is available at 41stddi.com.

Completion of the work at Arrowhead Parkway and Six Mile Road.  All work is expected to be complete by late summer of 2023.

Completion of the work on 60th Street North at Interstate 229. All work is expected to be complete by late summer of 2023.

Replacement of the Sixth Street bridge downtown. Work will begin as soon as weather allows in early 2023 and is expected to be complete in late fall of 2023.

85th Street and Cliff Avenue reconstruction to widen the roadway and add turn lanes for the future Harrisburg Freshman Academy at this location. Work should be complete by the end of 2023.

South Veterans Parkway construction. The first segment in the push to complete the Veterans Parkway loop around the south side of Sioux Falls will begin between Western and Cliff avenues in 2023. Work will include reconstruction at the intersections of Western, Minnesota and Cliff avenues. All work will not be complete in this segment until late 2024.  More information is available at southveteransparkway.com.

The Benson Road and Interstate 229 interchange will be reconstructed starting in 2023.  This interchange will be reconstructed as a diverging diamond similar to the 41st Street and I-29 interchange.