The multi-year reconstruction of Highway 75 in Sioux Center will begin in the spring. The project has been designed based on safety, improving roadway function, and showcasing Sioux Center’s character.
City staff and DGR Engineering previewed the coming construction with the City Council this week.
2023 Construction
Starting as early as March 2023, pavement from 20th Street South to about 13th Street South will be removed and replaced with a new four-lane enhanced roadway with center medians and turn lanes.
This is Phase 1 of the project. This phase also includes the reconstruction of about a block of 16th St. SW to make safety improvements.
The addition of a stoplight at 20th Street S. is planned as part of Phase 1. The speed limit will decrease to 45 MPH heading north at 20th St. S and transition to 35 MPH just south of the 16th Street stoplight.
Phase 1 Cost and Timeline
This portion of the project is estimated at $11 million, with the City’s share at $1.8 million, including utility work, and the DOT contributing $9.3 million. Work will be staged to allow for two-way traffic throughout most of the project.
“We anticipate they’ll start with the west lane of Highway 75 first,” said Trent Bruce, of DGR Engineering. “The portion of 16th street will be next, then the east lane of Highway 75, then the center turn lanes and medians. This is how we as engineers think a contractor will do it, but before construction starts we’ll work with the contractor to finalize the plan.”
Phase 1 will be bid in January, and construction is anticipated through the summer, ending in November 2023.
Phase 2
Phase 2 of the project, from 13th Street S to 12 Street N, is anticipated to be constructed in a two-year period, 2024-25. Most construction will pause during winter months.
The DOT is now in the process of working with property owners along the Phase 2 section of roadway to purchase right of way and temporary or permanent easements.
Stay informed
Communication efforts to equip property owners, businesses and the general public to navigate construction are being coordinated by the City and DGR:
- Regular construction meetings open to the public will be held throughout project.
- People can sign up for text and email alerts for the project at www.siouxcenter.org/alerts.
- The City is also creating a tree voucher program for trees removed as part of construction.
- Businesses will have an opportunity to discuss business access and other construction details individually with DGR and city staff in early 2023.
See the concepts
Concept drawings shared at the November 2022 Council meeting depict the Phase 1 construction for 2023. A few details are not shown, for example, the planned sidewalk on the east side of Highway 75 from 16th to 20th St. S is not shown in all of the drawings, but the concepts give an overview of the project.
The 2.5-mile Highway 75 reconstruction project stretches nearly end-to-end in Sioux Center. It will replace the deteriorating pavement and rebuild the roadway in a safety-based four-lane design to serve the community for decades. Highway 75 reconstruction is a shared project between the City and the Iowa Department of Transportation.