Top road projects to follow this season

Sioux Falls will invest more than $60 million in road improvement projects this year, touching hundreds of blocks and including some major upgrades.

That’s in addition to funding from the state and utility work.

Here’s a look at some of the major road projects to watch this year.

41st Street & I-29 interchange

This two-year project starts March 28 when the westbound lanes of 41st Street will be closed between Interstate 29 and Gateway Boulevard to allow crews to begin work on the reconstruction of the 41st Street and I-29 interchange. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained in the eastbound lanes during this initial phase of construction.

Additionally, Meadow Avenue will be closed between 39th and 41st streets, along with the outside southbound right turn lane on the off-ramp of I-29 onto 41st.

The overall project includes construction of a diverging diamond interchange at I-29, widening 41st to three lanes in each direction between Marion Road and I-29, underground utility upgrades, new concrete surfacing and a median on 41st.

There also will be impacts along Marion north of 41st this year as the city plans to reconstruct multiple blocks.

Here’s a full look at the project:

Massive west-side road project starts soon — and will last two seasons

Minnesota Avenue, Russell to Second streets

Drive North Minnesota Avenue, and you’ll see this project has already started. It’s a full reconstruction, including underground utility upgrades, new concrete surfacing, a median, wider sidewalks and streetscape work.

One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction, which is scheduled to largely be done by fall with final completion early next year.

The project is part of a larger effort to encourage redevelopment along Minnesota Avenue. Click below for a closer look.

Minnesota Avenue takes big step toward new look

41st Street and Sycamore Avenue

This will be a full reconstruction of the intersection, including underground utility upgrades, new concrete surfacing, a widened share use path and a median on 41st Street.

The project also includes overlay work on Sycamore Avenue from 28th to 57th streets, a partial reconstruction of 33rd and Sycamore and a permanent traffic signal at 41st and Bahnson Avenue.

“For our east-siders, this is going to be a major change and add capacity,” director of public works Mark Cotter said. “We’re going to add lanes at the intersection, put concrete about 1,000 feet in each direction and mill and overlay where we left off up to 26th and down to 57th, so that whole situation will be beautiful this time next year.”

One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction. Work will start later this spring and is scheduled to be done by early November.

Arrowhead Parkway and Six Mile Road

Arrowhead Parkway will be reconstructed and widened from 10th Street to Willow Run Golf Course. The project also will include reconstruction, widening and realignment of Six Mile Road for one-quarter mile north and south of Arrowhead. Work includes installation of underground utilities, concrete surfacing, traffic signals and a median.

“It’s been an accident-prone corridor for a number of years,” Cotter said. “We’ve worked with the property owners to build a traditional intersection with a lot of capacity and make it 90 degrees.”

One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on Arrowhead most of the time during construction, but a three-month closure will be required. Six Mile Road also will be closed during construction. Work will begin later this spring, and the project is scheduled to be done next year.

Cliff Avenue

There’s a lot of work ahead on Cliff Avenue.

“Cliff Avenue is basically going to have a full makeover from 12th to 57th,” Cotter said. “When people drive that, they’re going to realize these were very strategic decisions to meet today’s traffic. Our goal is to get it all done this year.”

It involves overlay work from 12th to 26th streets and concrete repairs from 26th to Interstate 229, similar to what was done last year on Kiwanis Avenue.

The most significant part of the work involves widening the road from 49th to 56th streets, including underground utility upgrades and new concrete surfacing.

Cliff will be closed while school is out for the summer. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained while school is in session.

Work will begin later this spring, with the project expected to be done in November.

Downtown projects

It will be a season for both design and construction of major downtown projects.

Design work will be done on the Sixth Street bridge rehabilitation, which will rename it the Unity Bridge. The goal is to bid it by the end of the year so most of the construction is done in 2023.

“We’re going to squeeze the traffic down to go across the bridge and widen the pedestrian walkway and enhance the street parking,” Cotter said.

The Seventh Street cul-de-sac will be changed to offer more parking, additional streetscape and a wider walking path down to the Arc of Dreams.

And, depending on funding, the city will move ahead with at least part of its plan to reconstruct Phillips Avenue from Eighth to 10th streets and part of Ninth Street to the east.

From string lights to swings, what’s ahead for Phillips Avenue in 2022

Street rehabilitation program

Hundreds of blocks also will be improved in addition to the major projects above. The plan is to complete:

• 200 blocks of asphalt mill and overlay.
• 420 blocks of slurry seal.
• 14 blocks of concrete reseal and repair.

Pothole patrol

It’s the season for potholes, and the city typically has five to seven crews out addressing them daily.

To report one, download the city’s SeeClickFix app here on Google Play and here on the Apple App Store.