The Highway 75 reconstruction project in Sioux Center will enter a new phase next week as the first full closure of a section of the highway is scheduled to begin.
Starting Tuesday, May 26th, Highway 75 will be fully closed from 5th Street North near Perspective Insurance to 7th Street North, including the 7th Street North intersection near Casey’s.
City officials say contractors will remove pavement in that area and continue underground utility work before grading and preparing the roadway for paving.
The closure marks the first major traffic shift of the 2026 construction season after crews spent much of the spring completing utility work while keeping north-south traffic moving through the corridor.
Closure Details and Traffic Changes
In addition to the Highway 75 closure, one block of 7th Street Northeast, from Highway 75 to 1st Avenue Northeast, will also close for utility work and repaving.
Traffic will still be able to enter Sioux Center from both the north and south on Highway 75, but drivers will need to follow detours around the closed section.
City officials are also implementing a truck embargo in portions of central and northeast Sioux Center once the closure begins.
Through-traveling trucks that are not making local deliveries or pickups will be required to use the designated truck route from 20th Street Southeast to 13th Avenue East to 20th Street Northeast.
The embargo prohibits through-truck traffic in residential areas east of Highway 75 near the construction zone.
Officials are encouraging drivers to continue traveling carefully and allow extra time while construction is underway.
Utility Work Continues North of Downtown
While the first full closure begins next week, underground utility work continues farther north along the corridor.
Contractor Vander Pol Excavating recently completed sanitary sewer installation on the east side of Highway 75 from 9th to 12th Streets North and has now shifted to water main work on the west side of the highway in that same area.
Additional storm sewer work is also planned north of downtown in the coming weeks.
City officials say crews were able to install a significant amount of underground infrastructure this spring before major closures became necessary.
Recent work completed includes:
- Sanitary sewer installation from 9th to 12th Streets North
- Water main work beginning on the west side of Highway 75
- Granite paver installation in downtown medians
- Landscaping and planter work downtown
- Pedestrian crossing improvements near 5th Street Northwest
Downtown Improvements Becoming More Visible
As construction continues, downtown Sioux Center is also beginning to take on a more finished appearance.
Granite pavers have now been completed in several downtown medians, while flowers and plants have recently been added to planter boxes along the corridor.
Landscaping work has also continued near the Centre Mall parking lot area.
Officials say upcoming work will focus heavily on pavement removal, remaining utility installation beneath the highway, and grading between 5th and 7th Streets North ahead of paving operations.
Public Construction Meeting Scheduled for June 10
The next monthly Highway 75 construction update meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sioux Center Public Library meeting room.
City staff and project engineers will provide updates on construction progress and answer questions from the public.
Monthly public update meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month throughout the construction season.
