Jamie Hult, Brandon Valley Journal
After months of work, the new bridge at I-90 exit 402 is expected to be completed this week.
The reconstructed interchange at exit 402 just west of Brandon is the first phase of a $50 million project to extend Timberline Avenue from Highway 100 to I-90.
“Basically, we’re building Veterans Parkway right up to old Timberline going north,” said Travis Dressen with the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT).
The bridge will be six lanes wide to allow for three lanes of traffic in both directions.
However, the bridge at exit 402 will only be open initially to drivers turning north onto the EROS Road. While the interchange is expected to be completed in October of this year, Dressen said, the south side of the interchange to Rice Street won’t be open until the fall of 2020.
SDDOT embarked on the Timberline Avenue project in early 2018. When it’s completed, it will provide a connection from East 57th Street in Sioux Falls all the way to Interstate 90.
That connection includes Highway 100, which was completed in 2017. The extended Highway 100 will also consist of three lanes in both directions to the interstate.
“It certainly gives people another connection to Sioux Falls. It could ease the pressure off I-229,” Dressen said.
The Timberline/exit 402 project also involves removing the Timberline County bridge over the Big Sioux River and BNSF rail.
Workers will also build a new bridge over 60th Street over the Ellis and Eastern rail and install a new 16-inch sanitary sewer force main to Sioux Falls.
Altogether, the project will include more than $11 million in utility relocation, Dressen said.
A plethora of precipitation in early 2019 and 2018 caused the Big Sioux River to flood, and workers are still waiting on the water level to decrease.
“Water was over the top of the sheeting,” Dressen said. “Flooding caused a ton of issues.”
Riley Brothers is the primary contractor on the project. They’re also handling the reconstruction of East 26th Street at I-229.
“Sioux Falls continues to grow, especially east with new developments and south. This is a major, needed connection,” Dressen said.
Timberline Avenue has been permanently closed between Rice Street and Interstate 90. Motorists are directed to use Interstate 229, Interstate 90, Rice Street, and Highway 11 until Highway 100 and the I-90 interchange is complete.
During construction of the I-90 Interchange, exit 402 in 2019 the westbound off ramp will be required to stay open. Eastbound traffic will be directed to use Interstate 90, Rice Street, Cliff Avenue, Minnehaha County Road 130, and Highway 11 until the new interchange is complete and opened to traffic.
The congestion at Brandon’s I-90 exit 406 is a problem SDDOT is keeping a watchful eye on.
“Brandon is a growing community, obviously,” Dressen said.
A public meeting is planned for September regarding exit 406. The date, time and venue are yet to be determined.
The exit 406 interchange is still on track to be rebuilt in 2023.
