Print this page
March 15, 2017

Mount Rushmore Road Reconstruction begins third and final phase

City officials, business owners, Chamber officials and residents gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony for the third and final phase of Mount Rushmore Road's reconstruction. City officials, business owners, Chamber officials and residents gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony for the third and final phase of Mount Rushmore Road's reconstruction. (City Photo)

City officials, business leaders, Chamber officials and residents gathered for Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the third and final phase of the Mount Rushmore Road Reconstruction Project.

Council members Lisa Modrick, Ritchie Nordstrom and Darla Drew were among those attending the ceremony.  Modrick, a member of the Mount Rushmore Road Reconstruction Group, joined other speakers in commending affected business owners fro their commitment to stay open and speakers also thanked community residents for their ongoing support of the affected businesses.

Here is the latest update on the Road Reconstruction Project:

Removal work has begun at Flormann Street and is continuing to move north along Mount Rushmore Road to Saint Patrick Street. Work on storm sewer will begin in the Saint Francis Street and Saint Anne Street area. Saint Anne Street from Mount Rushmore Road to the west 160-feet, including the alley, and Saint Francis Street from Mount Rushmore Road to the west 140-feet, up to the alley, will be closed for approximately four weeks for the installation of storm sewer. After that there will be intermittent closures of the two streets through the end of April for grading and gravel, curb and gutter, paving and lighting.

Next week removals will begin at Saint James Street and move south along Mount Rushmore Road. Work on sanitary sewer will follow removals in Mount Rushmore Road from Saint James Street to Saint Cloud Street and to the west on Saint Cloud Street approximately 180-feet.

Business access on Mount Rushmore Road will remain open at all times. A “Temporary Pedestrian Access Route” will be maintained on the east side of Mt. Rushmore Road through the first phase of construction. Left-hand turns across traffic are discouraged to allow for continued flow of traffic.

Work continues on medians, pavement markings, retaining walls and landscaping from Kansas City Street to Saint James Street. North and south bound lanes have been reduced to one lane. Pedestrian access between Clark and South streets on the east side of Mount Rushmore Road will remain closed until sidewalk and handrail installation is completed. Temporary Pedestrian Access Routes will be maintained at Fairview and South streets. The anticipated completion date of work on the project between Kansas City and Saint James streets is May 2017.

Weekly progress meetings are rescheduled to every Wednesday at 8 a.m. for the project between Saint James and Flormann streets, and every Wednesday at 9 a.m. for the project between Kansas City and Saint James streets. The meetings will be held at The Rushmore Hotel.

Motorists are asked to slow down through the work zone and be prepared for: suddenly slowing, merging and stopped traffic, minor delays, loose gravel, uneven surfaces and bumps, as well as construction workers and equipment adjacent to the roadway.

Project information is available at www.mountrushmoreroad.com.