Road Report: April 24, 2023

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 underway

Kiwanis Avenue: Work began April 18 to perform repairs to the pavement on the southbound outside lane of Kiwanis Avenue from 12th Street to the south entrance to the Great Plains Zoo.  In the upcoming days, the location of the lane closures will migrate toward 41st Street, then back to 12th Street in the northbound outside lane of Kiwanis. Traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times. Access to homes, businesses, parks and side streets will be maintained as well. Weather permitting, this work is expected to be complete within two weeks.

Marion Road: Work began April 18 to perform work on sidewalks along Marion Road. Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane between West 60th Street North and West 62nd Street North. The work is expected to be complete by May 5.

10th Street: Work began April 20 to allow crews to work on sidewalk along 10th Street.  The eastbound outside lane of 10th will be closed from Fairfax to Cliff avenues. This work is expected to be complete in one week.

Minnesota Avenue: On April 20, the outside southbound lane on North Minnesota Avenue was closed adjacent to the airport parking lots, approximately midway between Benson Road and Algonquin Street. The contractor will be working in the area. The work is expected to take one week.

Rice Street: On April 21, Rice Street was closed at the intersection of Prairie Avenue to allow construction crews to upgrade ADA-accessible curb ramps and the concrete valley gutter.  Motorists should utilize Russell Street, Bailey Street and Duluth Avenue as alternate routes. Weather permitting, this work is scheduled to be completed within two weeks.

Cathodic protection project: The 2023 retrofit cathodic protection project continues to make progress. Cathodic protection is a technology that the city of Sioux Falls has been using for the past several years as a nondestructive means to extend the life of existing ductile iron water main.

Cathodic protection works by protecting buried metal water main pipes and fittings from corrosive soils. Protection is achieved by coring a hole –typically 12 inches in diameter — over each piece of metal pipe and connecting a sacrificial anode, typically magnesium or zinc, to the pipe via a conductive wire. The sacrificial anode, which is more reactive with the surrounding soil than the cathode of the water main, protects the cathode by donating electrons through a current imparted in the conductive wire.

Because of this reaction, the sacrificial anode is corroded while the water main is protected. The process of coring to the water main approximately every 20 feet, installing a sacrificial anode and reinstalling the pavement core is a cost-effective way to extend the life of existing water main and minimize disruption to adjacent property owners and traffic. The city of Sioux Falls Water Division identifies suitable areas to utilize this technology where ductile iron water main is still in fair condition and cathodic protection can meaningfully extend its life.

The 2023 cathodic protection project is focused on the Marson Drive neighborhood from 41st to 49th streets between Southeastern and Bahnson avenues. The contractor typically is able to protect 200 to 300 feet of water main each day with no disruption to water service and minimal disruptions to traffic.

Because the pavement cores are replaced immediately, the contractor usually is able to open completed areas of the project to traffic the next day.  The contractor also will install several test stations throughout the project area that city of Sioux Falls water maintenance crews will use to monitor the health and capacity of the sacrificial anodes over time.

85th and Cliff: The improvement project at the intersection of 85th Street and Cliff Avenue began April 10 with a full closure of the intersection and north/south traffic detoured to Minnesota Avenue and east/west traffic detoured to 69th Street.

During the first two weeks of construction, the contractor has completed pavement removals, started  rough grading and is preparing to install underground water and storm sewer utilities.

Several other utility companies have been on-site to relocate various underground and overhead utilities that will be displaced because of the project.

The work is progressing smoothly and still on schedule for an August completion date.

41st and I-29: Work continues on the 41st Street and Interstate 29 interchange reconstruction project. Crews are removing the south side of the 41st Street bridge in preparation for the expansion.

On the east side of Interstate 29, crews are working on pavement removals on the north side of 41st Street.

Utilities will start to be installed today. For additional details, visit the project website at 41stddi.com.

What’s next

32nd Street: Beginning today, 32nd Street will be closed between Ellis Road and Wheatland Avenue. The contractor will be working in the area. The work is expected to be complete and the road open by May 5.

33rd and Minnesota: Beginning today, crews will perform concrete repairs at the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and 33rd Street. Repairs will start on the west side of the intersection to Spring Avenue. Eastbound traffic will be shift to the outside lane from Spring to Minnesota avenues. Westbound traffic will be shifted to the north outside lane from Spring to Minnesota.  Along Minnesota Avenue, the northbound outside lane will be closed at the intersection for curb and gutter repairs. Weather permitting, this work is expected to be completed within one week.

41st Street: Beginning today, the outside westbound lane on 41st Street will be closed from Grange to Minnesota avenues to allow crews to make improvements to the ADA accessibility along the corridor, including accessible curb ramps and sidewalks with corresponding driveway restorations and concrete curb and gutter repairs. This is the first of four phases of the project, which includes both sides of 41st Street from Willow to Minnesota avenues. The entire project is anticipated to be completed by August.