Sioux Falls drivers face another month of major road closures as fall openings approach

Sioux Falls commuters face continued road impacts in August as several major construction projects remain active and move toward late-summer or fall milestones. The 49th Street bridge over Interstate 29 remains fully closed, new mill-and-overlay work is underway on 26th Street and Marion Road, and major south- and east-side projects are still changing traffic patterns.

49th Street bridge remains fully closed

The most significant current closure is the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s rehabilitation of the 49th Street bridge over I-29. The bridge is fully closed between Terry Avenue and Solberg Avenue.

The closure began June 22, 2026, and was planned for approximately 50 working days, or about 10 weeks. SDDOT says there is no official detour and encourages motorists to use alternate routes. The overall rehabilitation project has an anticipated completion date of October 23, 2026.

The city’s July 22 construction update said the bridge was expected to reopen after major construction in late August, while final work would continue after reopening. That means a change in access later this month should not be treated as the end of all project activity.

Drivers should continue following posted work-zone controls and check SDDOT traffic information before traveling near the bridge.

26th Street and Marion Road add a new west-side impact

Mill-and-overlay work on 26th Street and Marion Road began August 3. The project includes lane reductions and is expected to continue through late October, subject to weather and construction conditions.

The work adds another active source of delays for west-side travel while the 49th Street bridge remains closed. Drivers should allow extra time, use alternate routes where possible and follow temporary lane markings and other work-zone controls.

South Veterans Parkway has an early-November opening projection

Construction continues on South Veterans Parkway between Cliff Avenue and Sycamore Avenue. The project is a partnership between the City of Sioux Falls and SDDOT.

The city’s July 22 update said the roadway is expected to open to traffic in early November. That is an opening projection, not a guaranteed date. The same update said landscaping, cleanup and other finishing work would continue after the roadway opens, with the project expected to be fully completed in early 2027.

Until the roadway opens, drivers should treat posted restrictions and current project updates as controlling rather than relying on the projected milestone.

Arrowhead Parkway remains closed near Veterans Parkway

On the east side, Arrowhead Parkway is closed between Highline Avenue and Veterans Parkway as part of the Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway intersection improvements.

The City of Sioux Falls says the closure will remain in place until late fall. Arrowhead Parkway east of Veterans Parkway to 10th Street is open to traffic, and Veterans Parkway remains open throughout the construction project, although drivers should expect construction activity and follow the current traffic configuration.

The city project page lists a May 14, 2027 completion date for the broader intersection project. The late-fall Arrowhead Parkway reopening and the later overall completion date are separate milestones.

City and state responsibilities differ

The City of Sioux Falls lists the 49th Street bridge, 26th Street and Marion Road overlay, South Veterans Parkway and Arrowhead-Veterans Parkway work on its construction pages. The city also notes that it partners with SDDOT on projects involving state or federal roadways, including projects involving interstates.

The 49th Street bridge rehabilitation is SDDOT work. South Veterans Parkway is a joint city-SDDOT project. Arrowhead Parkway and Veterans Parkway intersection improvements are listed as a City of Sioux Falls project. Because the projects have different agencies and update channels, commuters may need to check both city and SDDOT information.

What Sioux Falls drivers should do

For August travel, drivers should plan for changing conditions near the 49th Street bridge, 26th Street, Marion Road, South Veterans Parkway and the Arrowhead Parkway-Veterans Parkway intersection.

• Allow extra travel time near active work zones.
• Use alternate routes where possible, especially around the fully closed 49th Street bridge.
• Follow posted detours, lane controls, temporary markings and work-zone signs.
• Do not assume a projected late-August, early-November or late-fall milestone is guaranteed.
• Check the City of Sioux Falls construction updates and SDDOT travel information before leaving.
• For state-system project alerts, motorists can use SD511 or subscribe to SDDOT’s SFMETRO text notifications.

Some access may change later in August, while other work is expected to continue into October and fall. As of Wednesday, August 5, the 49th Street bridge remains closed, the 26th Street and Marion Road overlay is underway, Arrowhead Parkway remains closed west of Veterans Parkway, and South Veterans Parkway is still moving toward a projected early-November opening.

Sources

• South Dakota DOT: 49th Street Bridge Rehabilitation
• City of Sioux Falls: Major Street Construction Update
• South Veterans Parkway Project

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