Work Will Be Suspended Through the Winter on St. Joseph Street Project

 WORK WILL BE SUSPENDED THROUGH THE WINTER

ON ST. JOSEPH STREET PROJECT

RAPID CITY, SD--Effective Thursday, November 9, work will be suspended on the St. Joseph Street road construction project.  The work is being suspended through the winter season and will resume in the spring.

            City officials indicate several factors led to the decision, which was made in collaboration this week between City officials and the contractor.  Those factors include the current weather impacting the contractor’s ability to perform necessary work on the project and the need to minimize project impacts on downtown holiday events in November.

            With the suspension of the work activity on November 9, traffic restrictions in the affected area will be removed and all travel lanes opened until work resumes in the spring.

            The contractor will focus on completing phase one of the multi-phase project no later than November 9.

                “We are making our best effort to minimize the impact of this project on our community,” said City Construction Group Project Engineering Manager Jordan Adkins.  “Based on the weather forecast and events we know are happening downtown, we believe it’s in the best interest of everyone to come back in the spring and complete the repairs on the other side of the street.

            “For now, we will get Saint Joseph Street opened back up so that there are no extra restrictions on travel and parking as we head into the holiday season.”

            Phase two of the project will commence in the spring and will include completion of repairs on the other side of St. Joseph Street.  Work is slated to be completed on the entire project by the end of May before Summer Nights events begin and to minimize impacts to tourist traffic.  City staff and the contractor will be in contact with impacted businesses and residents before work begins in the spring.

            The decision has no impact on the pending two-week closure of Fifth Street between Main Street and Omaha Street as Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern (RCP&E) crews upgrade the railroad crossing.  The stretch of Fifth Street will be closed from November 6-20.