Road Report: Aug. 12, 2024

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

95th & Western: The new roundabout at 95th Street and Western Avenue opened to traffic late last week.

Reconstruction of this intersection was part of the larger project to construct Veterans Parkway between Cliff and Western avenues. Western Avenue from the roundabout at 95th Street south to Lincoln County Highway 106 will remain closed until later this year as construction of the intersection at Western and Veterans continues.

On Veterans Parkway itself, the mainline concrete pavement is complete, with crews now working on turn lanes, medians, barrier walls, pedestrian paths, street lighting, asphalt paving on Western Avenue and restoration. All work on this project is expected to be complete later this fall.

What’s underway

Benson Road: The new bridge deck was poured last week on the Benson Road bridge just east of Minnesota Avenue.

Crews started pouring concrete at 11 p.m. Tuesday and finished up around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

After the bridge deck concrete gains sufficient strength, crews will work on the approach pavement, barrier curbs, railings, etc.

The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic this fall, but all work won’t be complete until next spring.

Kiwanis Avenue: The outside southbound lane on Kiwanis Avenue closed between 37th and 41st streets Aug. 7 to allow crews to perform sidewalk repairs. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

85th & Louise: The westbound lanes on 85th Street were routed around the closure on Louise Avenue, through the intersection, shifted to the eastbound lane and transitioned back to the westbound lanes through the recently removed median on the west side of the intersection during the evening of Aug. 11 to allow Xcel Energy to work on its facilities. This work is expected to be complete later this month.

What’s next

Sixth Street: Beginning today, the eastbound lane on Sixth Street will be closed just east of the Big Sioux River bridge to allow crews to utilize a lift for an adjacent building project. Traffic will be diverted to the westbound lane, and traffic will alternate through the closure. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

10th & 11th at Prairie: Beginning today, the northernmost lanes on 10th and 11th streets will be closed at Prairie Avenue to allow crews to perform accessible curb ramp improvements. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times on 10th and 11th. This work is phase one of a traffic signal, pedestrian and bicycle improvements project at these intersections. Phase one is expected to take approximately two weeks, at which time traffic control will be switched and phase two will begin. That phase will close the southern portion of each intersection. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times on 10th and 11th streets. Later this year, traffic signals will be installed at these intersections to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle movement in the area.

I-229 & Benson: Beginning today, the Interstate 229 northbound off-ramp at Benson Road, Exit 9, will be closed for the installation of utilities, grading and concrete surfacing. Northbound traffic should use the Rice Street exit on I-229 or the Cliff Avenue exit on Interstate 90 as alternate routes. Benson will remain open from Cliff to I-229. Access will be maintained for local businesses throughout the project. The northbound off-ramp is expected to reopen in mid-October.

I-229 & Cliff: Beginning today, the Interstate 229 northbound off-ramp at Cliff Avenue, Exit 4, will be closed to allow crews to perform preparatory work for next year’s interchange reconstruction project. Northbound traffic should use the Minnesota Avenue exit or the 26th Street exit on I-229 as alternate routes. The northbound off-ramp is expected to reopen in about two weeks.

Highway 115 public meetings: The South Dakota Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the city of Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization, the cities of Baltic and Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County and the Federal Highway Administration, will hold two in-person public meeting open houses to gather input from area residents on the S.D. Highway 115 corridor study. The corridor being studied includes Highway 115 from the intersection with Fourth Street in Dell Rapids to Dike Place/Dike Drive in Sioux Falls. The public meeting open houses are scheduled for the following dates:

• Sioux Falls public meeting: Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Special Olympics South Dakota, 800 E. Interstate Lane.
• Dell Rapids public meeting:  Thursday, Aug. 22, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Riverside in City Hall, 302 E. Fourth St.

Both meetings will include a short recorded presentation that will be played on loop. Members of the study advisory team will be available to answer questions. For those who cannot attend one of the public meetings or desire additional information, meeting materials are available on the study website at sdhighway115.com.