SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Arrowhead Parkway--also known as east Hwy 42 and East 10th Street--is already busy enough to nearly obliterate the sound of a City spokesman talking about the project.
Approximately 18,000 vehicles currently travel the street now--by 2040, according to principal engineer Brad Ludens, it could be handling 42,000 vehicles a day, making it Sioux Falls' busiest roadway.
In the meantime, as construction begins tomorrow, Ludens says the good news is that the road will remain open, the bad news is that it will be down to one lane in both directions. He says drivers should find alternative routes. The City will not provide a set detour.
Work should be completed by late fall.
For more information, click the video above or listen to the interview with Ludens (better audio than the video's).
Below is the press release issued by the City of Sioux Falls on the project.
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Phase Two of East Arrowhead Parkway Reconstruction Begins Wednesday
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: The second phase of the two-year reconstruction of East Arrowhead Parkway will begin on Wednesday, March 28, 2018
This is a joint City of Sioux Falls/South Dakota Department of Transportation project.
Last year, the previously milled asphalt street between Veterans Parkway and Gordon Drive received a temporary asphalt overlay to create a smoother ride for drivers, and the intersection of Arrowhead Parkway and Highline Avenue was reconstructed.
This year, East Arrowhead Parkway will be reconstructed from Sycamore Avenue to Highline Avenue. Arrowhead Parkway will be widened to six lanes and will include a median with left‑turn lanes at select intersections throughout the corridor. Various underground utility, streetlight, and traffic signal upgrades also will be completed with this project.
Arrowhead Parkway from Sycamore Avenue through Highline Avenue will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction starting Wednesday as the contractor begins work on the reconstruction of the south side of Arrowhead Parkway.
“This project will add some much-needed traffic capacity to this busy east-side corridor,” says Principal Engineer Brad Ludens. “We thank you in advance for your patience as we work to Keep Sioux Falls Moving.”
More than 18,000 vehicles travel on East Arrowhead Parkway each day. This is projected to increase to 42,000 by 2040. Access to businesses will be maintained at all times during the reconstruction project.
Arrowhead Parkway is anticipated to be fully open to traffic by late fall 2018, with additional work occurring in the medians and outside of the roadway in the spring of 2019. The prime contractor is T&R Contracting Inc. of Sioux Falls.
Drivers are urged to use caution and reduce their speed while traveling near the construction area and may want to consider alternate routes. To stay up to date about street construction in Sioux Falls, go to www.siouxfalls.org/street-construction. An interactive map provides information on the 2018 street construction program.