As summer fades into fall, drivers can expect to navigate about 20 state highway construction projects during September throughout western South Dakota, including a 6-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 16 immediately south of Rapid City, where work will begin in about two weeks.

Highway workers will do miscellaneous road work on 5.7 miles of Highway 16 that runs from Cathedral Drive to the Spring Creek Bridge, said Todd Seaman, region engineer for DOT's Rapid City office. Drivers can expect reduced speeds and single-lane traffic in northbound and southbound lanes all fall, but no traffic delays, Seaman said. That project, paid for with economic stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, involves mainline pipe replacements, erosion repair, median work and guardrail work. The project should be completed early next summer, but work will be suspended during the winter, Seaman said.

Travelers along Interstate 90 may see work continue into November at three construction zones west of the Missouri River, including the Exit 52 interchange in Black Hawk.

The state DOT is in its annual race against winter weather, and its own asphalt-laying deadline of Oct. 15, on numerous road surfacing projects, Seaman said.

CONSTRUCTION ZONES

• 14 miles of planned asphalt and concrete resurfacing on state Highway 20 between Prairie City and Bison hasn't started yet, but is expected to be completed yet this season. Drivers should expect pilot car delays.
• 8 miles of resurfacing west of Belle Fourche on U.S. Highway 212 is done except for shoulder work, which will begin either Sept. 21 or Sept. 28.
• 9 miles of resurfacing work between Nisland and Newell on Highways 79 and 212 will begin Sept. 21. Travelers can expect pilot cars and delays. The urban portion of that project, new curb and gutter through the town of Newell, has been completed.
• 10 miles of resurfacing on state Highway 34 from the Wyoming state line to the Junction of U.S. Highway 85 west of Belle Fourche is nearly complete, and further traffic delays are not expected.
• 2 miles of I-90 at the Exit 52 interchange near Black Hawk will maintain two-way traffic in the newly constructed westbound lanes while workers complete grading and concrete paving of the eastbound lanes. Twelve-foot width limits for vehicles are in effect. Completion was expected by November, but depending on the pending analysis of some unexpected ground shifting that occurred beneath an overpass structure, it may not be finished this year, if more corrective work on the multi-plate is needed, Seaman said.
• 4 miles of I-90 near Sturgis will see intermittent lane closures with traffic reduced to one lane in both directions. Minor delays are possible as part of a structure-widening project there. Completion expected in mid-October.
• 18 miles of surfacing work east of Wall is expected to be completed in mid-October. Reduced speeds and one-lane traffic with 16-foot width limitations are in effect. Some lane closures.
• 2 miles of Highway 244 near the entrance to Mount Rushmore will have some lane closures this month for surface repairs. Traffic will be maintained with flaggers.
• Routine cleaning and refinishing of the Keystone Wye bridge, which is done every five years or so, is nearly completed.
• 8 miles of grading and construction of new lanes for U.S. Highway 18 south of Hot Springs - a piece of South Dakota's portion of the Heartland Expressway - is ongoing with traffic maintained in the existing lanes. Completion is expected sometime in late 2010.