Road report: Week of June 7, 2021

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

What’s done

The city of Sioux Falls already has completed one major project this season. Work at the intersection of Russell Street and Minnesota Avenue started in April and finished in late May.

It’s the first piece of a multiyear plan for repairs on Minnesota between Russell and 18th streets. The remaining projects will fully reconstruct Minnesota Avenue in this area over the next several years.

What’s underway

You’ve no doubt noticed one of the season’s biggest projects has started. Work began at 33rd Street and Minnesota Avenue on May 3.

The east half of the intersection is expected to be done and traffic switched over in late July.

One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times on Minnesota Avenue, but 33rd Street is closed at Minnesota. Traffic on 33rd should use Phillips Avenue, 26th Street, and Grange Avenue as a detour route.

This project also includes miscellaneous work at other intersections in the area: 23rd and Minnesota, 24th and Minnesota, 25th and Minnesota, 28th and Minnesota, 31st and Minnesota, 26th and Dakota, and 26th and Spring.

All the work is expected to be done by mid-October. It includes replacing the sanitary sewer, water main, storm drainage pipe, street lights, traffic signals, concrete paving and accessible curb ramps.

Here’s a look at progress on Veterans Parkway from Sixth to Madison streets. All graveling is complete. Outside lanes are paved, and the rest of the concrete paving is being worked on.

New this week

Beginning June 7, the eastbound lane of East Eighth Street along with parking on the south side of the street will be closed between Reid Street and Weber Avenue. Two-way traffic will be maintained by using the center turn lane for eastbound traffic. Dave’s Construction will be performing fiber optic work. It is anticipated that work will be completed in three days with favorable conditions.

East 77th Avenue at Tomar Road closed late last week, and traffic will be detoured. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the day June 8, and the road open by June 11.

Beginning on June 7, the bike trail adjacent to Kiwanis Avenue will be closed between West Park Circle and the connection at the Big Sioux River. The southbound lane of Kiwanis will be shifted into the two-way-turn lane from Park Circle to 46th Street. Black-Top Paving will be reconstructing the bike trail, and the work is anticipated to be completed by mid-July.

What’s next

Sorry, Minnesota Avenue regulars, there’s more work ahead.

Work on Minnesota Avenue from 57th Street to St. Andrews Drive is expected to begin in late June.

This project includes adding a center turn lane on Minnesota from 57th to Sunnymede Circle, adding a northbound right turn lane from Minnesota to eastbound 57th, adding a traffic signal at Ralph Rogers Road. There also will be new water main, new storm drainage pipe, street lights, concrete paving and accessible curb ramps.

One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times on Minnesota Avenue.

Work is expected to be complete by mid-November.

The city has opened bids on 72 formal construction projects so far for the 2021 season, totaling $72.7 million worth of work. Officials typically bid out 80 to 100 formal construction projects in any given year, so there are still more to bid this year. Roughly half of these projects impact streets in some way, so we’ll have lots of updates ahead.

Wondering about a certain project? Email us at info@pigeon605.com and we’ll look into it for you.