Interstate 229 Exit 4 - Cliff Ave Reconstruction
Project Updates:
Sept. 22, 2026:
Anticipated work in Oct. 2026: Crews will spend October completing the remaining major construction activities ahead of reopening Interstate 229 to traffic. The concrete paving contractor will concentrate on finishing the northbound auxiliary lane and on-ramp between exits 4 and 5, along with paving the northbound lanes on Cliff Avenue. Asphalt operations will also continue at exit 3, where crews are building a temporary diversion and widening the northbound I‑229 shoulders to support a future project.
The bridge contractor will advance work on the northbound bridge by constructing the barrier walls and placing the approach and sleeper slabs on both ends of the structure.
Finally, the electrical contractor will install the traffic and pedestrian signals at exit 4, while the erosion control team will establish turf behind the curbs and within project ditches.
Completed work in Sept. 2026: September remained busy across the project, with concrete paving and bridge construction as the primary focus areas. The paving contractor shifted operations to the northbound I‑229 mainline east of the bridge.
Early in the month, the bridge contractor installed the remaining reinforcing steel before completing a bridge deck pour mid‑month. After the deck pour, crews moved on to constructing the bridge barrier walls.
Elsewhere on the project, work centered on topsoiling and seeding the median and outside ditches along northbound I‑229. The electrical contractor continued installing light poles, signal poles and conduit, while the underground utility contractor wrapped up the remaining water‑main and storm‑sewer installation.
Crews also continued progress on guardrail installation and construction of a cantilever sign bridge.
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Sept. 21, 2026:
Beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, the northbound off-ramp at Minnesota Avenue (exit 3) on Interstate 229 is scheduled to close to traffic. This ramp is expected to be closed for two weeks, weather permitting.
Travelers are advised to use Western Avenue (exit 2), Cliff Avenue (exit 4), or 26th Street (exit 5) as alternate routes during the closure. Travelers utilizing Cliff Avenue (exit 4) will only be allowed to turn right onto Cliff Avenue as the interchange is still under construction.
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Sept. 17, 2026:
Beginning on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, the northbound off-ramp at Cliff Avenue (exit 4) on Interstate 229 in Sioux Falls is scheduled to reopen to traffic. The scheduled reopening date is weather dependent. After exiting the Interstate, travelers will only be allowed to turn right onto Cliff Avenue until paving of Cliff Avenue has been completed in late October or early November 2026.
The northbound auxiliary lane and ramp were recently reconstructed as part of an overall interchange reconstruction project at Cliff Avenue (exit 4). The northbound mainline Interstate and on-ramp at Cliff Avenue (exit 4) will remain closed until late November when all paving and bridge work has been completed.
Southbound I-229 will remain in its current two-lane configuration until all barriers, cones, and barrels are removed by crews and pavement can be restriped. This work should be completed by early December 2026.
Motorists are reminded to use caution and reduce their speed while workers and equipment are present.
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Sept. 2, 2026:
Beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, Cliff Avenue will be fully closed between the southbound Interstate 229 on- and off-ramps and the Spencer Park Access Road in Sioux Falls. Weather permitting, the overnight closure is expected to end by 6 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. This closure is necessary to allow the contractor to pour the bridge deck for the new northbound I-229 bridge at Cliff Avenue (exit 4).
Motorists are reminded to use caution, reduce their speed, and be alert for workers and equipment throughout the work zone.
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Aug. 28, 2026:
Anticipated work in Sept. 2026: The month of September will continue to be busy, with concrete paving and bridge construction remaining the primary focus of the project. The paving contractor will shift its focus to the northbound Interstate 229 mainline east of the bridge and plans to pave the northbound through and turn lanes on Cliff Avenue.
The bridge contractor will spend the early part of the month installing reinforcing steel before completing a bridge deck pour near mid‑month. After the deck pour, the contractor will begin installing the bridge barrier walls.
Other work throughout the project will include a significant focus on topsoiling and seeding the median and outside ditches along northbound I‑229. The electrical contractor will continue installing light poles, signal poles and conduit, while the underground utility contractor will complete the remaining water main and storm sewer installation.
The project will also continue to make progress on guardrail installation and construction of a cantilever sign bridge.
Completed work in Aug. 2026: The primary focus during August was bridge deck construction and concrete paving. The bridge contractor completed all northbound bridge decking and made significant progress installing reinforcing steel for the deck.
The paving contractor paved the northbound Interstate 229 exit 4 off‑ramp and completed paving, curb and gutter, sidewalk, and driveway approaches on the west half of Cliff Avenue. Once work on the west half was finished, traffic was shifted onto the newly constructed southbound lanes, allowing contractors to begin work on the east half of Cliff Avenue.
In addition to paving and bridge work, the dirt contractor continued grading the northbound on‑ramp at exit 4, where the pedestrian box culvert was recently constructed.
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July 24, 2026:
Anticipated Work in Aug. 2026:
The primary focus during August will be bridge deck construction and concrete paving. The bridge contractor will continue installing deck forms and reinforcing steel for the new northbound I-229 bridge.
The paving contractor will pave the northbound I-229 Exit 4 off-ramp and complete paving, curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway approaches on the west half of Cliff Avenue. Once work on the west half of Cliff Avenue is complete, traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed southbound lanes, allowing contractors to begin work on the east half of Cliff Avenue.
In addition to paving and bridge work, the dirt contractor will focus on grading the northbound on-ramp at Exit 4, where the pedestrian box culvert was recently constructed.
Completed Work in July 2026:
July was another busy month for the project as major activities, including concrete paving and bridge superstructure construction, got underway.
The paving contractor focused on paving northbound I-229 between Exits 3 and 4, including the northbound auxiliary lane. Crews also paved two southbound lanes of Cliff Avenue from the new roadway section to the Big Sioux River bridge.
The bridge contractor set the girders for the new northbound bridge and began installing bridge deck and abutment forms. They also poured the floor and half of the walls of the pedestrian tunnel beneath the northbound on-ramp at Exit 4. The underground utility contractor continued installing storm sewer pipe between Exits 3 and 4.
In addition, the wall contractor completed the fourth and final mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall, located between northbound I-229 and the northbound off-ramp.
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July 7, 2026 - Press Release:
Beginning Monday, July 13, 2026, temporary lane and road closures are scheduled on Interstate 229 (I-229) and Cliff Avenue at exit 4 in Sioux Falls to allow crews to set bridge girders for the new northbound I-229 bridge.
Travel Impacts:
From 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday, July 13, and Tuesday, July 14, the northbound driving lane on I-229 between exit 3 (Minnesota Avenue) and exit 5 (26th Street) will be closed nightly.
From 8 p.m. Monday, July 13, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, South Cliff Avenue will be fully closed between the southbound I-229 on- and off-ramps and the Spencer Park Access Road.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, July 16, Cliff Avenue will again be fully closed between the southbound I-229 on- and off-ramps and the Spencer Park Access Road. Weather permitting, the closure is expected to be lifted by noon on Saturday, July 18.
Motorists are reminded to use caution and reduce their speed while workers and equipment are present.
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Project Summary:
Years Two and Three: The project includes the reconstruction of exit 4 (Cliff Avenue) with added lighting, signals, and mainline Interstate work. The Interchange will be reconstructed as a Single Point Urban Interchange. This project includes two structure replacements. 41st Street will be realigned to intersect with the Lincoln High School entrance. Traffic signals will be added to the intersection of Cliff Avenue & 38th Street. Pedestrian mobility will be improved with a new trail, sidewalk, and access tunnels. The southbound I-229 lanes and structure will be constructed in 2025 and the northbound I-229 lanes and structure will be constructed in 2026.
Year One: This project includes the modification of the median crossovers with a temporary structure in preparation for the 2025 interchange reconstruction. This project also includes the temporary widening of Interstate 229 northbound.