Public Works Launches 2023 Street Construction Season

As residents enter spring and welcome warmer weather, the City of Sioux Falls’ Public Works department is gearing up for the upcoming street construction season. Each year, street construction typically launches in March and concludes in early November, weather permitting.

Annual street construction includes major projects planned for and budgeted through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), maintenance projects like asphalt overlay and slurry seal that improve ride quality and extend pavement life, and infrastructure projects including sanitary sewer, water mains, storm drainage, street lighting, and traffic signals.

“Maintaining and expanding our street system in Sioux Falls is a critical responsibility of the Public Works department, and we strive to ensure roadway projects are completed in a safe, timely and cost-effective manner,” said Andy Berg, City Engineer. “We have several roadway expansion projects to meet the needs of our growing city while also preserving our existing street network.”

Sioux Falls has more than 3,400 lane miles of roadway, the equivalent of driving from Sioux Falls to San Diego and back. Every four years, the health of Sioux Falls’ roadway pavement is measured using a Pavement Condition Index. The City of Sioux Falls’ most recent pavement management score, issued in 2020, was 70 out of 100, which exceeded the national average.

“We understand having orange cones along your commute can mean a few extra minutes,” Berg said. “Residents should consider alternate routes, when possible, and please slow down when driving through construction zones. The people working are your neighbors and they’re improving the roadways for everyone. Remember we are ‘One Sioux Falls.’”

To sign up for monthly street construction newsletters and view project-specific updates or construction maps, visit www.siouxfalls.org/streetconstruction. 

This year’s major infrastructure projects include:

Continuation of Projects from 2022

41st Street & I-29 Interchange Reconstruction
Project Details

• 2023 work includes reconstruction of the interchange itself and reconstruction of 41st Street from I-29 to Shirley Avenue
• A diverging diamond interchange being constructed

Impacts to Drivers

• At least one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on 41st Street during construction in 2023
• Some side streets will be closed during construction
• The on and off ramps of I-29 will close periodically during construction

Estimated Timeline

• Construction to resume on March 27, weather permitting
• Final completion in the spring of 2024

Arrowhead Parkway & Six Mile Road Reconstruction

Project Details

• Arrowhead and Six Mile Road are being widened to four-lane roadways with center-raised medians
• Other work includes underground utility improvements, street lights, and traffic signals

Impacts to Drivers

• At least one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction in 2023

Estimated Timeline

• Construction to resume this spring when weather permits
• Final completion this fall 

Continuing Partnership with South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT)

Benson Road & I-229 Interchange Reconstruction

Project Details

• Includes Benson Road from Lewis Avenue to Hall Avenue
• Construction of a diverging diamond interchange at I-229
• Widening Benson Road to three lanes in each direction west of I-229 and two lanes in each direction east of I-229; underground utility upgrades, new concrete surfacing, and a center median on Benson Road
• The project will also include the City’s first triple left turn lane from the I-229 northbound off ramp onto westbound Benson Road

Impacts to Drivers

• One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction west of I-229
• Benson Road will be closed east of I-229 during construction in 2023; will be open during construction in 2024
• The on and off ramps of I-229 will close periodically during construction
• Nighttime closures of I-229 will occur when new bridge girders are being set

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin April 3, weather permitting
• Final completion in the spring of 2025

Veterans Parkway, Western Avenue to Cliff Avenue

Project Details

• Similar to previous sections of Veterans Parkway – constructing a six-lane roadway with a raised, landscaped median
• Work includes a bridge over 85th Street, a pedestrian underpass, a roundabout at 95th Street and Western Avenue, and reconstruction at the intersections of Cliff Avenue, Minnesota Avenue, and Western Avenue

Impacts to Drivers

• Cliff Avenue will be impacted in 2023 – one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times
• Minnesota Avenue and Western Avenue will be impacted in 2024 – both roadways will be fully closed for a period of time during the summer of 2024.
• Nighttime closure of 85th Street will occur when new bridge girders are being set

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin in June
• Final completion in the fall of 2024

Ride Improvements on High Traffic Volume Streets

6th Street, I-229 to Sycamore Avenue Concrete Rehabilitation

Project Details

• Concrete repairs and asphalt overlay on the western portion of the project
• Full depth and partial depth concrete repairs on the eastern portion of the project, including diamond grinding of the pavement to improve the ride quality

Impacts to Drivers

• One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times
• Some side streets will be closed during portions of the work

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin in May
• Final completion in October

Cliff Avenue, 11th Street to 26th Street

Project Details

• Concrete repairs, lighting upgrades, and traffic signal upgrades in 2022
• Asphalt overlay in 2023

Impacts to Drivers

• One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times
• Some side streets will be closed during portions of the work

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin in June
• Work will take approximately one month to complete

26th Street, Cleveland Avenue to Alpine Avenue

Project Details

• Concrete repairs and an asphalt overlay
• Includes reconstructing 38 accessible curb ramps to meet current standards
• Other work includes some minor storm drainage and lighting work

Impacts to Drivers

• One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction at all times
• Some side streets will be closed during portions of the work.

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin in late June or early July
• Completion late this fall.

Other Major Projects

Unity Bridge

Project Details

• Includes reconstruction of the Unity Bridge and about 900’ of 6th Street east to Weber Avenue
• Other work includes underground utility improvements, railroad crossing upgrades, and streetscaping
• 42” bore through quartzite for the underground utilities to cross the railroad tracks
• Includes preparatory work for a potential future whistle reduction zone through the downtown area

Impacts to Drivers

• 6th Street is closed during construction
• Vehicle traffic is detoured to 8th Street
• The Greenway Trail is closed during construction as well
• Pedestrian traffic on the Greenway Trail is detoured through Falls Park, then along Phillips Avenue to the Arc of Dreams

Estimated Timeline

• Work began in mid-February
• Final completion in 2024

85th Street and Cliff Avenue Intersection Reconstruction

Project Details

• Reconstructing and widening Cliff Avenue from just north of 85th Street to just south of 90th Street
• Reconstructing and widening 85th Street from Cliff Avenue to the west about 500 feet
• Both streets will be four lanes with a raised center median and turn lanes
• Other work includes watermain, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, street lighting, and traffic signals

Impacts to Drivers

• Both Cliff Avenue and 85th Street will be closed for the duration of construction
• Cliff Avenue traffic will be detoured to Minnesota Avenue
• 85th Street traffic will be detoured to 69th Street

Estimated Timeline

• Work is expected to begin April 3, weather permitting
• Completion by mid-August, ahead of school opening