Feb. 7, 2024

Construction crews made solid progress on the first 2-mile segment of South Veterans Parkway, but future segments won’t move forward until right-of-way acquisition is done.

The stretch from Cliff to Western avenues started work in June 2023.

The contractor, Minnesota-based Riley Construction, “got so much done,” said Shannon Ausen, a civil engineer with the city of Sioux Falls.

“We basically have the majority of the dirt work done. They just got so much done due to a very organized contractor and dry summer season.”

Construction of the bridge over 85th Street east of Minnesota Avenue is continuing through winter.

“If you drive out there, it looks like a bridge, but the deck is not poured,” Ausen said.

The plan is do to that in April along with starting up work on the road again.

Here’s a look at progress on the initial segment:

As for what’s next, the original plan had been to continue to the west beginning this year, ultimately connecting from Western Avenue to Interstate 29. That can’t move forward until all the needed right-of-way has been acquired.

Unlike the first segment, which didn’t involve many landowners, “segment two from Interstate 29 to Western has the most property owners, so our design and right-of-way negotiations have slowed down a little bit,” Ausen said. “It’s looking highly unlikely it will get bid this year. We’re still hopeful maybe by the end of the year.”

At the same time, design work has started on the next segment east, from Cliff to Sycamore avenues, and as that right-of-way acquisition is done, it will move into bidding.

“So we could have both of those under construction by the end of next year,” Ausen said.

Final completion is still scheduled by the end of 2027, connecting the south stretch to 57th Street where Veterans Parkway runs north to Interstate 90.

Here’s an updated animation of the future parkway:

In the meantime, this season’s construction will bring work on adjacent city roads, including a roundabout at 95th Street and Western Avenue that was included as part of the first segment.

Western Avenue will be closed from south of 95th Street to Highway 106, and a temporary traffic signal will be installed at 85th and Western to help manage detouring traffic. The traffic signal likely will become permanent, Ausen said.

“Last year, we overlaid 85th from Minnesota to Louise in anticipation of the extra traffic,” she added. “So that will allow the contractor to build out the Western Avenue and Veterans Parkway intersection.”

Good news for property owners impacted by last season’s construction: There now will be pavement behind their homes.

“Most of the complaints we had were around dust and noise, and that happens with construction,” Ausen said. “We certainly appreciate their patience.”

There will be an open house to update residents on the construction of Veterans Parkway from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 4 at Harrisburg North Middle School, 2201 W. 95th St.

Find project updates at southveteransparkway.com.