The latest Highway 75 construction update shows underground & utility crews continue to work toward the intersection of 9th St. S and Highway 75 with the goal of keeping the intersection open as long as possible and keeping its closure as short as possible.
While it is not ideal for this intersection to be closed during the school year, this was planned due to the way utilities are constructed (based on elevation and flow).
There are some deep utility connections in the 9th St. S intersection, so the excavating crews have some significant work to do there.
The goal is to close the intersection and complete the utility work before the paving crew returns. This way, when utility, underground, and prep work is ready, the paver can ideally pave right through this intersection.
As always, timing depends on weather or other construction challenges. Closure of the Highway 75 and 9th St. South intersection is tentatively set for Thursday, August 29.
In addition, Contractors are planning to shift Highway 75 traffic south of 13th St. S. to the outside lanes. Northbound traffic will be driving on the new outside lane of pavement on the east side of Highway 75. Southbound traffic will continue driving on the outside lane on the west side. This will allow work on the medians to continue for Phase 1 (20th St. S to 13th St. S).
Here’s what’s been done recently in the Phase 1 area:
- Electrical work and street light installation
- New lighted street name signs on traffic signal bars
- A portion of the colored concrete paving and seeding has been done
- Also paving preparation between 12th and 9th St. South in the Phase 2 area.
Here’s what’s coming up:
- Residents will begin to see continued utility work between 9th and 6th St. South
- Pavement removal in the same area
- Line painting will begin on east lanes of Phase 1 of highway 75 to prepare for the traffic shift
- Continued median and landscape work including plantings, turf, and colored concrete
- Mainline paving to start at 12th St. South and moving north
The next monthly construction public update meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Sioux Center Public Library’s meeting room. City staff and engineers will share a project update, and members of the public will have an opportunity to ask questions.
