BROOKINGS – The South Dakota Department of Transportation says that the contractors for the 20th Street South/Interstate 29 interchange project and the Brookings Municipal Utilities water main utility project continue to make progress on the improvements at the intersection of 22nd Avenue South and 20th Street South. 

Construction crews have experienced unforeseen utility delays and conflicts which has extended the construction timeline. The roadway is anticipated to be opened to traffic in mid-October. 

Motorists should be aware that 22nd Avenue South is closed to through traffic from the intersection of Eighth Street South to 32nd Street South. A fully signed detour will remain in place to direct through motorists around the closure.

Pedestrian and bike traffic that frequent the Allyn Frerichs Recreational Trail should be aware that the trail is closed in conjunction with the intersection. The trail will be closed to through pedestrian and bike traffic from 26th Street South to Moriarty Drive. A fully signed detour will remain in place to direct through pedestrians and bicyclists around the closure.

The closure is necessary to complete water main pipe installation, storm sewer pipe installation, turn lane construction, sidewalk ramp and trail improvements, traffic signal installation, and surface restoration through the intersection.

The prime contractor for the $15.3 million project is Bowes Construction Inc. of Brookings. Construction of the bridge structure and all grading operations are scheduled to be completed in 2022, with the surfacing and final project completion scheduled for July 14, 2023.

For further information about the project, contact Project Manager Waylon Blasius at 605-692-6342 or SDDOT Engineering Supervisor Jeff Brink at 605-882-5166.

Project information is available on the SDDOT website at https://dot.sd.gov/brookings-pcn-020v.