Road Report: April 11, 2022

Construction season is here, so we’re back with our weekly look at what projects are done, where you’ll find traffic impacts and what’s scheduled next.

What’s done

12th Street: The eastbound lanes on 12th Street at Garfield Avenue are now both open to traffic. Work is still occurring nearby, so commuters should continue to use caution in this area.

What’s underway

Marion Road: Work on southbound Marion Road at Silver Valley Drive is expected to be completed late this week or early the following week.

Cathy Avenue: On Tuesday, Cathy Avenue will be closed at 41st Street to allow crews to complete pavement removals as part of the 41st Street project between Interstate 29 and Marion Road. Cathy is expected to be reopened to traffic by the end of the day.

Tallgrass Avenue: Work began last week to install sanitary sewer and water main on Tallgrass Avenue between 74th and 85th streets.

This street is a gravel road bordered by open fields and a rural residential subdivision.

This area is seeing an increase in development and traffic, and the city is installing the underground utilities ahead of a project to pave this segment of Tallgrass next year.

What’s next

49th and West: Today, construction will begin on the new intersection of 49th Street and West Avenue. West Avenue will be closed to traffic at 50th and 44th streets. This work is expected to take about one month.

26th Street: Today, the westbound lane of 26th Street between Sherman and 10th avenues will be closed to allow crews to perform concrete joint repair, partial depth concrete repair, and curb and gutter repair. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained in the eastbound and center turn lanes. In upcoming weeks, the location of the lane closures on 26th will vary between Sherman and 10th. At a minimum, one lane of traffic in each direction will remain open at all times. Access to businesses will be maintained. Work on 26th  is expected to be complete in late April.

Work Zone Awareness Week: This week is Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to remind drivers to be attentive while traveling through work zones. “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down” is the official theme for NWZAW 2022. NWZAW has been observed for more than 20 years and was launched as a public awareness campaign to help everyone understand the role each of us plays in keeping motorists and roadway workers safe.

“Statistics from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse show in 2019 there were 762 fatal crashes in work zones resulting in 842 deaths across the United States,” state Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt said. “The statistics demonstrate that everyone needs to take personal responsibility to eliminate all distractions while driving, staying focused on the road and obeying speed limits in work zones. We want roadway workers, as well as the traveling public, to arrive home safely each and every day.”

As part of NWZAW, everyone is encouraged to participate in Go Orange Day on Wednesday. Demonstrate support for highway construction employees across the state by wearing orange apparel and posting photos on social media using the hashtags #NWZAW, #Orange4Safety or #SDDOT.

SDDOT also created construction-themed coloring sheets, crossword puzzles and word finds for young families and elementary classrooms to use to promote safety awareness. Those materials are available free to download here.