Road Report: May 22, 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

Highway 38 & Marion: Work continues on Highway 38, also known as 60th Street North, at Marion Road. Starting today, left turns from all directions will be closed within the intersection . The lanes will be closed during two time frames: today through Friday and May 31 through June 3.

Sixth Street bridge: Progress continues on the Unity Bridge in downtown Sioux Falls.

Crews are installing the falsework, or temporary forms, needed to construct the new bridge deck.

This project will be fully complete in 2024.

60th Street North bridge: Work is nearing completion on the 60th Street North bridge across Interstate 229.

The bridge deck has been poured, and crews are working on building the concrete barriers and sidewalks on the bridge.

The bridge is expected to be open to traffic in late June, but the project won’t be fully complete until August.

Benson & I-229: Work is progressing at the Benson Road and Interstate 229 interchange project.  Xcel Energy is in the process of relocating some of its power poles on the west side of the interstate.

Crews are installing underground utilities and grading the roadway on the east side of the interstate.

As soon as Xcel is finished relocating the poles west of the interstate, crews will begin work on the underground utilities in this area.

This project is expected to be complete in June of 2025.

Highway chip seal and fog seal work: The state of South Dakota has started chip seal and fog seal applications on several highways in the  Sioux Falls area. The contractor will move from one project to the next in the following order:

1. U.S. Highway 81:  Three miles total, from 2 miles south of U.S. Highway 14 to 5 miles south of Highway 14. The approximate time to complete the chip seal on this route is one day.
2. S.D. Highway 19:  Twenty-three miles total from highways 34 to 38. The approximate time to complete the chip seal on this route is four days.
3. S.D. Highway 19:  Thirteen miles total from highways 42 to 44. The approximate time to complete the chip seal on this route is three days.
4. S.D. Highway 44:  Thirteen miles total from Parker to Lennox. The approximate time to complete the chip seal on this route is four days.
5. S.D. Highway 11:  Two miles total from S.D. Highway 42 north 2 miles. The approximate time to complete the chip seal on this route is one day.

After the chip seal operation is completed, all routes will receive a fog seal within a few days.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane and guided through each project with the use of flaggers and a pilot car. A delay of up to 15 minutes can be expected while traveling through the work area during daytime hours.

Loose gravel will be present for a period of 36 to 72 hours after each day’s chip seal application. Motorists should travel at 40 mph, or the posted speed limit if it is less than 40 mph, during this time frame. Permanent pavement markings are scheduled to be applied within 14 days of completion of the chip and fog seal projects.

What’s next

Bahnson Avenue: Beginning today, the northbound lane on Bahnson Avenue will be closed just south of 57th Street to allow crews to install new utilities. A stop sign will be in place alternating traffic through the closure. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

Russell Street: Beginning Wednesday, the outside westbound lane on Russell Street will be closed west of Prairie Avenue to allow crews to perform a concrete repair. Two westbound lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times during construction. This work is expected to be complete in about one week.

Western Avenue: Beginning Wednesday, the northbound lane on Western Avenue will be closed at Burnside Street to allow crews to perform a concrete repair. Northbound traffic on Western will be shifted into the turn lane. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times during construction. This work is expected to be completed in about one week.