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Road projects make progress
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FarkRAPID CITY - The construction season is in full swing, and local projects are right on track, despite a snowy spring.
One such project, at the intersection of St. Patrick and Cambell streets, is progressing nicely and will be on schedule for its Oct. 14 completion date, South Dakota Department of Transportation project engineer John Gerlach said.
Traffic flow is currently limited in that area to two lanes on the east half of Cambell Street and part of E. St. Patrick Street. But he said the area should be more accessible soon.
“We're hoping to open up the intersection a little more Saturday,” he said, referring to Saturday, April 15. “It will still be a four-way stop, but hopefully by a week after Saturday we'll have the signals in place.”
At that point, E. St. Patrick Street will be back in regular operation, if things go as planned.
“East St. Patrick Street should be back to normal by a week from Saturday if all the materials get supplied from the contractor,” he said.
Once finished, East St. Patrick Street will include a right turn lane for northbound Cambell Street traffic, so that cars turning right onto Cambell can get through the intersection more quickly, he said.
Another main project is to widen Cambell Street.
“We're making it a five-lane road, two lanes northbound, two lanes southbound then a middle turn lane, with an exception through the bridge. The bridge will still be four lanes,” he said.
Two-lane traffic on Cambell Street will switch areas this summer while crews finish the other side of the road.
“We're working on the east half of Cambell Street, which is scheduled to be paved back by mid-July,” he said. “At that time, we'll switch traffic and put them head-to-head on the new pavement and tear up the west half of Cambell Street and start construction on that.”
Gerlach also emphasized that area residents need to be patient during construction.
“People need to stay alert and pay attention,” he said. “At times, traffic will be stopped due to construction activities.”
Meanwhile, work at the Interstate 90 Exit 32 interchange near Sturgis, which has been ongoing since 2004, will be done in time for the Sturgis motorcycle rally this year, Palmer said. He said the rally is the absolute deadline for that project.
“We have to be opened back up for the rally,” he said.
Palmer said the recent snow set his project back “three or four days” but that it remains on schedule and should be done by the rally deadline.
The Exit 32 project includes work on the Exit 32 interchange, Junction Avenue itself and bridges on Sales Ring Road and Junction Avenue, Palmer said. Junction Avenue will also be extended to Vanocker Canyon Road. In addition, work is being done on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90.
Those lanes are being detoured now but will be fully functional for the rally, as will the Exit 32 interchange, according to the DOT.
Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com
Construction on Cambell Street at E. St. Patrick Street has funneled traffic into two lanes. Signs warn of 10-minute delays during rush hour. The road work is expected to last through October, although the DOT hopes to fully open up E. St. Patrick Street within a week. (Steve McEnroe/Journal staff)
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