Road Report: Aug. 26, 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

Minnesota Avenue: Minnesota Avenue fully opened to traffic Aug. 22 from 85th Street to the south. The road has been operating with two-lane traffic for most of the summer to allow crews to build the east half of the intersection for the new stretch of Veterans Parkway.

What’s underway

10th Street: Work continues on 10th Street from Euclid to Menlo avenues as part of the 10th Street/Pettigrew neighborhood street and utility project.

The first phase, covering 10th Street between West and Euclid avenues, remains closed.

All concrete work is complete in this section, and the contractor has begun asphalt paving. This section will be opened to local traffic once paving is finished.

In the meantime, traffic should use Ninth, 11th or 12th streets as alternate routes. This project, which began just after Memorial Day, involves the reconstruction of 10th Street from West to Menlo avenues, Covell Avenue from 10th to 11th streets and Menlo Avenue from Ninth to 10th streets.

The work includes underground utility improvements, concrete curb and gutter installation, asphalt paving, driveway approach replacements, accessible curb ramp upgrades and new street lighting.

The first phase of the project is nearly complete, with the second phase expected to finish in October. Once the first phase is open to local traffic, the third phase will commence with pavement removals. The entire project is expected to be completed by November.

85th & Sundowner: Work continues at the intersection of 85th Street and Sundowner Avenue, where crews have installed storm sewers and are working on water main installation and grading.

Concrete surfacing will follow once grading and the base course are complete at the intersection.

The contractor also is constructing temporary roads for the detour route at Heritage Parkway to facilitate the construction of a roundabout.

Access will be maintained for local residents.

This project is a joint effort between the cities of Sioux Falls and Tea.

The work includes underground utility installation, grading, asphalt and concrete surfacing, and street lighting.

Motorists are advised to use 69th Street in Sioux Falls, Heritage Parkway/Ellis Road and Gateway Boulevard in Tea as alternate routes.

The intersection of 85th and Sundowner is expected to reopen to traffic in late November. The overall project is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Klein Avenue: Work on Klein Avenue continues to make progress.  The contractor has all the concrete work done and is working on asphalt concrete paving.

This project involves the complete reconstruction of Klein Avenue from 41st through 42nd streets.

Work includes installation of water main, replacement of sanitary sewer and storm sewer, installation of sump pump collection lines, 9-inch PCC patching, asphalt concrete paving, sidewalk curb and gutter, street lighting and restoration.

The overall project is scheduled to be complete by the end of September.

Minnesota Avenue: Late last week, the outside southbound lane on Minnesota Avenue closed just north of Blackhawk Street to allow crews to work on the approach for Xcel Energy. The work is expected to be complete by Sept. 9.

What’s next

14th Street: Beginning today, the outside westbound lane on 14th Street will be closed between Sixth and Dakota avenues to allow the contractor to work on utilities. This work is anticipated to be completed in two days.

Interstate 90 at Brandon exit: Beginning Tuesday night, the eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 90 will be diverted through the on- and off-ramps at the Brandon exit. The work will be done from 7 p.m. through 7 a.m. while crews set bridge girders. The closure will happen again for the same hours on Wednesday night into Thursday morning while crews install components to build the bridge deck. Traffic on Highway 11 will be maintained. The overall project includes the reconstruction of Exit 406, which will continue next year.