85th Street Overlay Project to Start on Monday

Due to an asphalt overlay project, drivers will encounter closures on 85th Street and slower commute times in southern Sioux Falls, beginning Monday, September 11. Full closure of 85th Street from Louise to Minnesota Avenues will occur intermittently during the project. Work is expected to be complete in about three weeks.

“The south side of Sioux Falls has seen several construction projects this summer, between the City’s projects and work happening within Harrisburg and Lincoln County,” said Wes Philips, Principal Engineer for the City of Sioux Falls. “Smoother roads are ahead, but as this project takes place, we ask for people to be patient, slow down, and allow for a few extra minutes on their commute for the next couple of weeks.”

Several City of Sioux Falls projects have taken place in the area this construction season, including the reconstruction of the intersection at 85th Street and Cliff Avenue, which is now open to traffic, and work on South Veterans Parkway, which began at Cliff Avenue and later this fall will move to its intersection with Minnesota Avenue.

Asphalt mill and overlay is an important piece of street maintenance that helps preserve the life of the road. Well-timed maintenance, like crack sealing, surface treatment, and mill and overlay, allow streets to stay in good condition and is a cost-effective way to extend the life of a street. While overlay projects can be inconvenient to commuters, they are far less invasive than a street reconstruction project.

For additional information on street construction or to sign up for the monthly newsletter, visit www.siouxfalls.org/construction. Residents can also sign up for alerts when overlay projects are in their area by creating an account at www.siouxfalls.org/alert.