MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELL NOW) Public meetings are scheduled for this week in Parkston and Mitchell regarding a corridor study of Highway 37 between Highway 44 in Parkston and Spruce Street in Mitchell which is being conducted by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, Hutchinson County, Davison County, the cities of Parkston and Mitchell, and the Federal Highway Administration.
Highway 37 has experienced increased traffic between Parkston and Mitchell due to increased commercial and residential development and continues to serve significant north-south through traffic in the region, with between 3,000 and 4,500 vehicles traveling per day over the last several years. The numbers are expected to increase substantially over the next few decades.
Objectives of the study include highway safety and capacity needs such as the number of through lanes needed, turn lane locations, passing lane locations, access management needs, bike and pedestrian improvement opportunities, and environmental conditions and potential impacts. Construction activities associated with findings from the study are expected to occur no earlier than 2026 with a final report anticipated by the end of this year.
Public input meetings are scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 20) at 5:30 PM at the American Legion Hall in Parkston and Wednesday (Feb. 21) at 5:30 PM at the Davison County Fairgrounds in Mitchell.