Sioux Center’s Highway 75 reconstruction project is nearing the finish line, with crews targeting a reopening to traffic by the end of Friday, November 20th.
Craig Lauritzen with DGR Engineering outlined the remaining work following the project’s final monthly update meeting Tuesday, November 10th, at the Sioux Center Public Library. He says the reopening goal depends on the remaining work going according to plan.
“We are hoping that by the end of the day on the 20th, we are open to traffic. Um, if we’re not fully open, we may have a lane closure for some, some final black dirt grading work, but we should be really close by the end of the day on the 20th.”
Final Work Before Reopening
All mainline paving by Godbersen-Smith Construction is complete. Crews are now finishing lighting, sidewalks, driveways, landscaping, and traffic markings before the highway can reopen.
According to project notes provided by the city and Lauritzen’s update, Nystrom Electric has installed the streetlights and connected wiring at the lights. Remaining electrical work includes connections in control boxes and testing the traffic signals at 7th Street North.
I&A Construction is finishing the last sidewalks and driveways this week. Vander Pol Excavating is backfilling black dirt and preparing roadside areas for seeding. MLS has installed trees and plants and is finishing bonded mulch in the medians, while Van’t Hof Concrete is completing the colored concrete.
Lauritzen says Synlawn is expected to begin installing synthetic turf in the medians Thursday, November 12th, with hopes of finishing by Monday, November 16th. Crews then expect to clean the roadway early next week so striping, crosswalk painting, and other traffic markings can begin around the middle of the week.
Some black dirt and grading work could continue through the end of next week. Lauritzen expects most work remaining after the targeted reopening to be minor and off the highway.
Follow-Up Work Expected in Spring
Some follow-up work will extend into spring. Late-season seeding may need touch-ups, and some plants may need to be replaced. The contractor also must test pavement smoothness throughout the project, beginning at 20th Street South. Any necessary grinding to smooth bumps could carry into next year and would involve moving lane closures.
Four Years of Construction
The approaching reopening follows Sioux Center’s community dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, October 12th, 2026. The roughly $54 million project has rebuilt about 2.5 miles of Highway 75, with construction spanning 2023 through 2026. It includes two travel lanes in each direction, turn lanes, medians, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and underground utility improvements.
This year’s construction has focused on the stretch from 5th Street North to just south of the 12th Street North intersection near McDonald’s.
Access Challenges During Construction
Looking back, Lauritzen says the project generally went smoothly. The most difficult access problems came where surrounding streets offered fewer alternate routes.
“The biggest challenge we’ve really had has been both on the south end from twentieth Street south to thirteenth Street south, and then the north end from seventh Street north up to twelfth Street north, where the neighborhood connectivity isn’t very good. And that’s just made it a lot harder for businesses, um, and the general public to access areas.”
He says downtown’s connected streets and alleys helped people reach businesses during construction. He credits businesses and property owners for being accommodating as work progressed.
“I think after the first year, everybody kind of figured out how things were going to look when it was done. And I think that helped, you know, put people’s minds at ease that, you know, it was going to be a nice looking product when it was done.”
New Traffic Patterns and Long-Term Use
Drivers will still need to pay attention to the redesigned turn lanes and median openings. Lauritzen says he has seen motorists enter some protected turn lanes from the wrong direction. The medians restrict certain left turns and leave some properties with right-in, right-out access, changes intended to reduce traffic conflicts and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Lauritzen says concrete pavement typically has an anticipated life of 40 to 50 years, with maintenance still required. He says future traffic growth and heavier axle loads can affect how quickly pavement deteriorates.
What Comes Next North of Sioux Center
A separate Iowa DOT-led project is planned for 2028 and 2029, rebuilding Highway 75 from 12th Street North to Highway 18. Sioux Center is partnering on the portion within city limits.
Plans for the segment from 12th Street North to 20th Street North call for two travel lanes in each direction, center turn lanes, landscaped medians, streetlights, a traffic signal at 12th Street North, and a paved pedestrian trail extending north. That design is intended to continue the improvements taking shape through the rest of Sioux Center.
