Nine Road Projects Are Reshaping Sioux Falls Streets Right Now

It is one of the biggest 'necessary evils' we deal with annually around these parts - road construction season. We love it when the projects are finished, but we curse each and every orange barrel while the closures and detours are in effect.

But the finish line in in sight for a number of projects from the City of Sioux Falls and the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

Here are updates on nine of the biggest ones currently impacting traffic in the Sioux Empire:

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Minnesota Avenue from Second to Eighth Streets Reconstruction

Crews are scheduled to pave the west side of Minnesota Avenue between Second and Fourth Streets later this week.

On the east side between Fourth and Eighth Streets, underground utility work is continuing. Once that work is finished, crews will begin grading, placing gravel, and paving over the next several weeks.

When paving on the east side is complete, traffic will shift to the east side so crews can begin work on the west side of Minnesota Avenue between Fourth and Eighth Streets.

Motorists should expect a one- or two-day closure of Minnesota Avenue between

Second and Eighth Streets for paving the center lane early next week.

The project remains on schedule for substantial completion in November. Final restoration and landscaping will continue into spring 2027.

Arrowhead and Veterans Parkways Intersection

On the west side of the intersection, crews are grading, installing storm drainage infrastructure, building retaining walls, and constructing pedestrian underpasses.

On the east side, crews are building median walls and sidewalks.

Arrowhead Parkway will remain closed between Highline Avenue and Veterans Parkway until substantial completion later this fall. Veterans Parkway remains open through the intersection.

Russell Street Concrete Pavement Restoration

Construction has resumed on Russell Street between North Louise Avenue and Minnesota Avenue after a temporary pause to accommodate traffic during last weekend's air show.

All six lanes between Minnesota Avenue and Interstate 29 reopened during the event. Crews have resumed work in the westbound lanes between West Avenue, Louise Avenue and Westport Avenues.

Crews also continue working east of Minnesota Avenue to the railroad bridge.

The pavement overlay at the intersections of Russell Street with Louise Avenue and Westport Avenues has been completed.

The project remains on schedule for completion in November.

476th Avenue near 72nd Street North

Beginning July 27, 476th Avenue will be closed from Slip Up Creek Road to Interstate 90 for roadway reconstruction.

Traffic will be detoured via 258th Street, South Dakota Highway 115 and Interstate 90.

Construction includes removing the existing roadway at the intersection of 72nd Street North to install sanitary sewer, water main, and storm drainage infrastructure across 476th Avenue.

Following utility installation, 476th Avenue will be repaved.

The roadway is expected to reopen to traffic in early September.

26th Street and Marion Road Overlay

Beginning Aug. 3, an overlay project will begin on 26th Street and Marion Road.

Work will begin on 26th Street between Sertoma Avenue and Marion Road, then shift to Marion Road between Silver Valley Drive and Berkshire Boulevard.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at times, and significant traffic delays are expected.

Construction is expected to be completed in late October.

I-229 and Cliff Avenue Interchange

Crews have installed the large support beams for the new northbound bridge and will continue building the bridge deck through August. The new northbound bridge and lanes are expected to open in late fall, and will improve safety, traffic flow and connectivity.

Paving has begun on Interstate 229 west of the bridge. Paving on Cliff Avenue is expected to begin at the end of July. Motorists should expect lane shifts on Cliff Avenue this fall while paving is completed.

Work on the new northbound off-ramp is nearly complete. Crews are also constructing a new pedestrian tunnel beneath the northbound on-ramp to improve pedestrian access through the interchange.

The current traffic configuration on Interstate 229 will remain in place through the fall while crews complete the bridge and northbound lanes.

Cliff Avenue will remain open with one lane of traffic in each direction during construction.

I-29 and 85th Street Interchange

Current work includes building new bridges, improving ramps, and adding capacity to improve traffic flow. Retaining walls for the new bridge are complete, and crews are preparing the west side of Interstate 29 for the next phase of construction.

In August, crews plan to install the support beams for the new bridge carrying traffic onto southbound Interstate 29. Bridge deck construction will follow this fall.

The new 85th Street bridge is expected to open in 2027. The project also includes an additional northbound lane on Interstate 29 between 85th Street and the Interstate 229/Louise Avenue exit to help reduce congestion.

Construction will continue over the coming months, and traffic patterns may change as work progresses. Two northbound lanes on Interstate 29 will remain open through the fall, with traffic using the current lane shift through the work zone.

Drivers should also use extra caution on the ramp from Interstate 229 to southbound Interstate 29, which remains narrower than normal during construction.

49th Street Bridge

Crews have completed repairs on one half of the bridge and have started work on the second half. Later this month, crews will place a new concrete driving surface to extend the bridge's service life.

New pedestrian railings and safety barriers are scheduled for installation in mid-August.
The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic after major construction is completed in late August. Final work will continue after reopening, with the project expected to be completed in late October.

The full closure of 49th Street will remain in place through late August while most bridge work is completed. The accelerated construction schedule is designed to shorten the overall closure and reduce impacts on drivers and nearby residents.

Motorists should continue following posted detours until the bridge reopens.

South Veterans Parkway from Cliff to Sycamore Avenues

Most of the new roadway has been paved.

Crews continue work on the center median, sidewalks, and the shared-use path.
Construction also continues at the Southeastern and Sycamore Avenues intersections, while work on the railroad bridge is nearing completion.

The roadway is expected to open to traffic in early November. After the roadway opens, crews will complete landscaping, cleanup and other finishing work, with the project expected to be fully completed in early 2027.

Drivers should continue to expect construction activity throughout the area until the roadway opens this fall.

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