City Administrator Justin Weiland presented to the Dell Rapids City Council during their regular meeting on Monday, February 2nd, that future road construction projects in Dell Rapids could have impact on Dell Rapids streets. Road construction will begin on Hwy 115 between Quarry Road and 248th St (Colton turnoff) in 2016. However, in 2017, if plans are not changed, streets in Dell Rapids could be heavily traveled.
Current South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) 2017 plans include continuing Hwy 115 construction from Quarry Rd north to the 4-way stop intersection. The intersection and bridge will be torn up for construction. Motorists will be able to travel west towards Interstate 29 through the construction zone with the aid of pilot cars. However, SDDOT is also considering adding the Dell Rapids I-29 interchange to the current 2017 construction plan. The south-bound on-ramp would not be accessible in this plan, meaning that even though motorists could head west from Dell Rapids during the Hwy 115 construction, they could not get onto I-29 to head south to Sioux Falls. With the interstate exchange potentially not being accessible and with the portion of Hwy 115 already planned for construction between the 4-way stop and Quarry Road, the only way to get to Sioux Falls for Dell Rapids residents would be to travel on Garfield Ave to Centennial, accessing Hwy 115 at that point.
Weiland mentioned that the SDDOT added the interstate exchange plans to the 2017 plans since Hwy 115 will already be under construction. Weiland also mentioned that even though the SDDOT added the project, the bridge still has a few years of life expectancy left, and the project could be pushed out a few years. Weiland made the suggestion to the council to approach the DOT and ask them to push the interstate exchange project to a later date to help with the wear and tear on roads.
Councilman Mark Crisp agreed with the ask. He said that closing down Hwy 115 as well as the interstate exchange would pretty much paralyze all the businesses out by the interstate.