Delivering South Dakota's First Transportation Program Management

South Dakota and the City of Sioux Falls envisioned the need for a new highway corridor on the eastern edge of the city as far back as 1995. In the decades since, increased traffic has reinforced the need to establish a route that alleviates city center congestion by diverting vehicles to the outer regions of the city.

In 2021, the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) selected HDR to provide program management for the South Veterans Parkway, which will complete Veterans Parkway and connect I-29 and I-90. The $210 million effort was the first in the state to use a program management approach.

Advancing Efficient Highway Program Management

SDDOT and the City of Sioux Falls desired to accelerate the timeline for constructing this vital corridor, which required significant time and coordination. SDDOT recognized the need for a partner to assist with oversight of such a substantial undertaking. Using a program management approach on this major effort is allowing the state to continue delivering its normal list of projects while maintaining review of the South Veterans Parkway progress. Finishing the project on time is important to stakeholders, and with limited SDDOT and City of Sioux Falls staff availability, the alternative to a program manager — hiring multiple consultants for different services — would have made delivering the project within the required timeline very challenging.

The new 8.5-mile, six-lane divided highway will also include a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists, multiple pedestrian underpasses and a railroad overpass. Construction has been split into four project segments to match funding availability. The HDR team has provided environmental services, real estate acquisition, data collection, strategic communications and preliminary and final design services for the entire length of the corridor.

HDR’s program management work continues a long history of delivering quality work in the Sioux Falls area and demonstrates a strong partnership with SDDOT. Our involvement dates back to 2005, starting with planning efforts to preserve the corridor. HDR’s professionals later performed preliminary design work in 2009 and updated the environmental assessment in 2012. Over the last decade, we have reviewed development plans in the corridor to verify their compliance with the South Veterans Parkway plan. SDDOT recognized our local team’s familiarity with the corridor, and HDR’s capability as a national firm to draw in additional support. This combination made HDR an ideal teaming partner to assist with managing this important project.

Designing Key Intersections

In addition to overseeing the entire South Veterans Parkway program for SDDOT, HDR is designing the arterial intersections for the City of Sioux Falls that will connect with the new road approximately every mile. Our teams are performing Section 404 permitting, real estate services, and preliminary and final design. Completing these services alongside the South Veterans Parkway work will enable arterials to be constructed or reconstructed at a similar schedule. Parallel construction of the arterials and new road provides multiple benefits to the traveling public, including fewer detours and more efficient timelines.

Building on Veterans Parkway Design Success

From 2014 to 2019, HDR completed final design plans and right-of-way acquisition for three separate Veterans Parkway projects at the north end of the corridor. The total length of these projects was 3.6 miles with a constructed value of $77.6 million. All projects were completed on schedule.