Multiple Chip Seal and Fog Seal Projects Scheduled to Begin in the Mitchell Area

For Immediate Release:
Friday June 6, 2025

Contact:
Paulette Huber, Project Engineer, 605-770-3036

MITCHELL, S.D. – On Monday, June 9, 2025, two separate crews will begin simultaneous work on chip seal and fog seal projects on various highways in the Mitchell area. The contractor’s crews will move from one project to the next in the following scheduled order, please note all completion timelines are weather dependent:

• U.S. Highway 18 – Project begins from the junction of S.D. Highway 46 at Pickstown and runs six miles north to Lake Andes. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in two days and the fog seal will take an additional two days. This project also includes the installation of centerline rumble stripes to be completed at a later date;
• S.D. Highway 46 – Project begins from Wagner east for seven miles to the junction of S.D. Highway 50. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in two days and the fog seal will take an additional two days;
• S.D. Highway 37 – Project begins from Parkston south for eight miles and ends two miles north of Tripp. The chip seal work on this section, which will be conducted on the shoulders of the roadway, is anticipated to be completed in one day and the fog seal will take an additional day;
• S.D. Highway 44 – Project begins just west of the junction of U.S. Highway 281 and runs 18 miles to the junction of S.D. Highway 37 at Parkston. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in five days and the fog seal will take an additional four days;
• S.D. Highway 25 – Project begins from the junction of S.D. Highway 262 and runs north for 27 miles to the junction of S.D. Highway 34. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in six days and the fog seal will take an additional five days;
• S.D. Highway 251 – Project begins from the Nebraska state line and runs north for 16 miles to the junction of Highway 18 at Gregory. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in three days and the fog seal will take an additional three days;
• S.D. Highway 34 – Project begins just east of the S.D. Highway 37 junction and runs for 24 miles to just west of the Highway 25 junction near Howard. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in six days and the fog seal will take an additional five days;
• S.D. Highway 47 – Project begins from the Highway 18 junction in Gregory and runs north for 11 miles to the junction of Highway 44. The chip seal work on this section is anticipated to be completed in two days and the fog seal will take an additional two days; and
• Interstate 90 eastbound and westbound – Project begins from just east of exit 251 (Gregory/Winner) and runs east for eight miles to exit 260 (Oacoma). The chip seal work on this section will be conducted on the shoulders of the roadway is anticipated to be completed in two days and the fog seal will take an additional two days.

Traffic Control:
I-90 eastbound and westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane through the project with the use of signs, arrow boards, and traffic control devices. Delays of up to five minutes can be expected while traveling through the work area.

On all other routes, traffic will be reduced to one lane and guided through the project with the use of flaggers and a pilot car. Delays up to 15 minutes can be expected while traveling through the work area during daytime hours.

Loose gravel will be present for a period of up to 48 hours after each day’s chip seal application. Traffic should travel at 40 miles per hour or the speed limit, if it is less than 40 miles per hour, during this time frame.

The permanent pavement markings are scheduled to be applied within 14 days of completion of the chip and fog seal projects.

The prime contractor on this $7.1 million contract is Bituminous Paving, Inc. from Ortonville, MN. The overall project completion date is Friday, July 18, 2025. 

About SDDOT:
The mission of the South Dakota Department of Transportation is to provide a safe and efficient public transportation system.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions, and traffic incidents, please visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.

Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov.

-30-