I-229 Goes under the Microscope and You Get to Take a Peek

It’s time we had the talk. The Interstate 229 corridor is going to be vital for Sioux Falls residents and you can learn what the future will be.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation announced via press release, their collaboration with the Sioux Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City of Sioux Falls. Public open houses will take place on Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

These meetings are being held to inform area residents of the preliminary findings and potential improvements being considered by each individual sub-study as the corridor study continues developing a 20-year improvement plan for the I-229 corridor, including the interchanges and associated crossroad corridors. The public is invited to attend any or all sub-study meetings of their choosing.

The first open house will be for Exit 3 at Minnesota Avenue. The open house meeting will be held on Monday, June 1, from 5:00 to 7 PM. The sub-study is looking at potential improvements for the interchange itself along with ramifications from 57th to 41st Street. This should also include how 49th Street will factor into any future endeavors.

The second open house would involve Exit 6 at 10th Street that same evening from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. Potential improvements will be discussed for the interchange itself and how 10th Street will be affected from Franklin Avenue to the west and Sycamore to the east. The frequently mentioned intersection of 10th and Cleveland would be included in that forum.

On Tuesday, June 2, the third open house will focus specifically on Exit 9 at Benson Road from 5:00 to 6:30 PM with a Mainline sub-study open house to follow from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. This final open house will encompass the entire corridor spanning 10.5 miles. All interchanges and numerous arterial streets will be covered in this final presentation.

All interchanges will be in play during the final presentation. Included in the discussion will be numerous directly and indirectly involved passageways such as Solberg Avenue from 69th Street to 57th Street, Louise Avenue from 69th Street to 57th Street, 57th Street from Louise Avenue to Western Avenue, Western Avenue from 57th Street to 49th Street, Minnesota Avenue from 57th Street to 41st Street, Cliff Avenue from 49th Street to 33rd Street, 26th Street from Cliff Avenue to Southeastern Drive, 33rd Street from Cliff Avenue to Yeager Road, Yeager Road from 33rd Street to 26th Street, Southeastern Avenue from 18th Street to 26th Street, 18th Street from Southeastern Drive to Cleveland Avenue, 12th Street from Lowell Avenue to Cleveland Avenue, 10th Street from Franklin Avenue to Sycamore Avenue, 6th Street from Lowell Avenue to Cleveland Avenue, Rice Street from Wayland Avenue to Bahnson Avenue, Benson Road from Cliff Avenue to Sycamore Avenue and 60th Street North from Lewis Avenue to the proposed Bahnson Avenue.

A brief presentation will be given at the beginning of each meeting followed by an open house that will provide opportunity for discussion with SDDOT, MPO, city and consultant staff. The opportunity to present written comments will be provided. Written comments will be accepted until June 19, 2015.

For those who cannot attend the open houses or would like additional information on the overall study or any of the sub-studies, information is available online at www.i229study.com. The presentations and displays shown at the open houses will be available online within a few days after the open house meetings. The website also allows for online comments to be submitted. The study team would appreciate hearing from the area commuters, concerned citizens and adjacent landowners and business owners throughout the study period.