Local Grocer Requests Council Action on 2nd Street NE Closure; City Pledges Resolution Within One Week

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The ongoing closure of 2nd Street NE following the demolition of the old City Hall became a flashpoint during Monday night’s City Council meeting, as a local business owner warned of mounting safety risks and “unnecessary hardships” for downtown commerce.

Tyler Thuringer, representing County Fair Foods, used the meeting’s open forum to challenge the city’s timeline for the project, noting that while demolition was completed in January, the street remains barricaded and no active construction is taking place.

“A More Congested and Confusing Traffic Pattern”

Thuringer presented a picture of the daily operational struggles facing the grocery store and nearby residents. He noted that pedestrians are now “crossing in areas they normally wouldn’t” to navigate around the barricades, creating hazardous situations near crosswalks.

“Customers walking in and out of nearby businesses, including County Fair, are now navigating a more congested and confusing traffic pattern,” Thuringer told the Council. He further emphasized that drivers are treating the grocery store’s private parking lot as a “pass-through route for downtown traffic,” leading to increased wear and tear and safety concerns for shoppers.

Access for delivery vehicles has also been severely restricted. Thuringer reported that many of the store’s entrances are effectively blocked, forcing semis, UPS, and FedEx drivers into increasingly dangerous maneuvers in narrow alleyways.

“I respectfully asked the Council to take action and reopen 2nd St. NE within a week until active construction begins,” Thuringer stated. “If it has to be closed again later, that is fine, but until then it only continues to create unnecessary safety risks and hardships”.

The City’s Response: “Tomorrow or Within a Few Days”

The issue resurfaced at the conclusion of the meeting during council announcements. Councilman Michael Heuer noted that he had heard “genuine concern from a lot of people” regarding the closure while in the downtown area.

City Manager Alan Stager acknowledged the frustration, admitting that city officials “live with it every day” and have been receiving the same repetitive updates from developers.

“Almost a direct quote is the same update that I’ve received for the last month, which is tomorrow or within a few days we will be ready,” Stager said.

Stager revealed that a primary obstacle to simply reopening the road is a trench dug through nearly both lanes for water main work. Because no provision was made for temporary paving, the road currently has a “really bad spot” that makes immediate reopening difficult.

Despite the logistical hurdles, Stager signaled that the city’s patience has reached its limit. He informed the Council that civil plans were finally received on Monday afternoon, and the city is now prepared to hold the developer to a strict timeline.

“The one-week requirement will either happen, or we will open up the road through the city’s effort,” Stager pledged.

Mayor Ried Holien added that while the lack of visible activity is frustrating, developers have been performing foundational work and soil testing that are “not as obvious to people.”

“Simple answer is it will be open within a week or there will be active construction activity at the site,” Stager concluded.