Road Closure Near County Fair Foods Expected to Last Until May 31st
- Steve Jurrens
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Local officials are asking for continued patience from the public as a major construction project near a high-traffic local grocery store remains at a standstill for vehicles. During Monday night’s City Council meeting, City Manager Alan Stager provided a detailed update on the road closure in front of County Fair Foods, revealing that the total blockage is a matter of both logistical necessity and public safety.
The issue was brought to the floor by Councilman Brent Mohrmann, who noted that the disruption is beginning to weigh on local residents.
“This is an issue that, as long as the street is closed in front of County Fair Foods, the public is going to be pretty antsy about it,” Mohrmann said. He specifically questioned how the total closure aligned with city ordinances that typically limit construction to obstructing no more than half of a roadway. (18.2003)
The Logistics of a 100-Ton Operation
City Manager Alan Stager clarified that while city ordinances generally aim to keep at least half of a street open, the sheer scale of the upcoming work near County Fair Foods makes that impossible.
“When it’s necessary for the completion of a project and for public safety, we can order the street completely closed,” Stager explained. “In this case, the permit was issued for up to a six-month period of time, and in working with the developer, it was concluded that they need the complete street closure.”
The primary driver for the total shutdown is the arrival of massive specialized equipment required for the next phase of development.
“A portion of the project that isn’t visible yet, but will be very soon, involves bringing in a 100-ton truck crane,” Stager told the Council. “That crane has a footprint in excess of 30 feet wide—just for the crane itself, not even including the amount of materials that need to be staged alongside of it.”
Looking Toward a May Opening
While the crane’s footprint necessitates the current total closure, Stager noted that the city is working on an interim solution to restore some traffic flow before the project is fully completed.
“There are two street closure plans documented as part of the permit,” Stager said. “One is a complete closure, which we have essentially been in. The second is a plan that opens up two lanes—one in each direction of travel—as soon as permissible to do so.”
According to Stager, the “key to permitting” that two-lane reopening is the repair of a substantial street cut where the pavement has been removed for utility work. Until that patch is deemed safe for vehicle travel, the total detour will remain in place.
Stager provided a firm deadline for the current phase of the project, stating, “The end date on the permit is the 31st of May. By that date, the paving that has been ripped up on the street also needs to be repaired.”
Councilman Mohrmann concluded the discussion by emphasizing the importance of clear communication with the community. “So basically, if the public asks, we can feel comfortable giving them a hard end date of May 31st,” Mohrmann noted.
Barring weather delays or unforeseen equipment issues, traffic is expected to return to the area in full by early June.
