KTIV: 11-mile stretch of I-29 eyed for major rebuild; open house draws feedback
https://www.ktiv.com/2026/05/20/11-mile-stretch-i-29-eyed-major-rebuild-open-house-draws-feedback/
More than 11 miles of Interstate 29 in southeast South Dakota are due for major rehabilitation or reconstruction, but exactly what changes should be made is still being debated.
A design firm hosted an open house Tuesday to share results from the I-29 Corridor Study, which examines the interstate from the Iowa-South Dakota border to Exit 9 near Jefferson.
The study focuses on I-29 in Union County, including the areas in and around North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes. It looks at the roadway, on- and off-ramps and the local streets that connect to the interstate.
“We need to bring the interchanges to modern standards,” said Jon Markt, the HDR Consultant Project Manager. “Some of those interchanges have both crash issues and delays that we’d like to see improved, and so we’re looking at conceptual options to improve those things.”
Past studies identified potential interchange improvements at:
Exit 1: Dakota Dunes Boulevard
Exit 2: River Drive
Exit 4: Northshore Drive
A potential Exit 5 interchange was added to the corridor study following recent flooding events near Exit 4.
Concepts also include widening the Big Sioux River Bridge and expanding I-29 to six lanes from the Riverside Boulevard exit in Iowa to Exit 2 (River Drive) in North Sioux City.
Markt said public feedback from Tuesday’s meeting will be used as plans move forward.
“We take that and put that into the starting point for the design,” Markt said. “We’ve solved these issues based on the data, but if the community is still looking for refinement, when they get into the design work, they’ll be able to jump right off from that point and be responsive.”
Community members shared what they liked and didn’t like about the proposals.
Patricia D’Auguste, a North Sioux City resident, said she’s concerned about changes being considered for the on-and off-ramps.
“They’re proposing completely changing the on- and off-ramp intersection on the west side of the highway,” Patricia D’Auguste said. “They say it’s because of federal regulations, but it’s an existing ramp that works beautifully.”
Plans currently estimate the work will need to be addressed between 2030 and 2035. HDR says the study report is expected to be completed this fall, which will help the South Dakota Department of Transportation plan next steps.