Crews perform a pavement patching operation along Kiwanis Avenue.
When the busy Kiwanis Avenue corridor in Sioux Falls began to show signs of deterioration, city leaders turned to the professionals with Snyder & Associates to determine the best course of action for improving the roadway. The two-mile stretch of roadway between West 12th Street and West 41st Street represents a vital north/south thoroughfare for residents. Without timely pavement preservation techniques, the roadway would continue to deteriorate, leading to costly and disruptive reconstruction.
Recognizing the potential for using cost-saving pavement rehabilitation techniques, the Snyder & Associates team performed a pavement analysis on the corridor. We studied the pavement’s structural integrity using concrete coring methods and falling weight deflectometer testing. This in-depth analysis showed the roadway’s base was in satisfactory condition, opening the door for using more cost-efficient rehabilitation measures to repair the corridor.
Roadway Patching, Construction Phasing & ADA Compliance Measures
The rehabilitation measures put forward by our team included the use of full- and partial-depth patching, diamond grinding of the roadway surface, repairs to the curb and gutter areas where needed, and the replacement of ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps. In addition, Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) pushbuttons were included at numerous intersections. The APS buttons use audible tones to communicate when a pedestrian should cross the street.
The partial- and full-depth patching measures were used to restore the structural integrity of the concrete pavement, while the diamond grinding process provided a smooth riding surface to the finished pavement surface. Improvements to the ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and the addition of pedestrian signals create a safer pedestrian experience through the corridor.
Heavy Traffic Concerns Met with Staged Pavement Repair Process
This heavily trafficked corridor with five signalized intersections accommodates over 18,000 vehicles per day. From the start, this heavy traffic volume created unique design and implementation challenges for our team. To keep traffic flowing during the rehabilitation process, the project included three construction phases, utilizing multiple traffic staging layouts along the five-lane corridor. Access to homes, businesses, parks, and side streets was maintained throughout most of the project, with detours being provided when necessary.
With the Kiwanis Avenue rehabilitation efforts concluded, this major corridor is once again fully serving the members of the community. The pavement restoration efforts our team was able to implement headed off more serious and costly solutions down the road and will allow for many more years of service. Thanks to the City of Sioux Falls for identifying this corridor for study, our cost-effective strategy saved money for taxpayers by providing restoration to the pavement at the right time.
