A Cleaner But Rougher Ride

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Warmer temperatures have city snow-plows on the move again this week. But cleaner roads seem to creating a rougher ride for Sioux Falls drivers.

The mild weather this week is finally allowing plows to get into some neighborhoods and plow these roads from curb-to-curb. Or in some cases, as close as they can.

After back-to-back-to-back snow events over the past two weeks, city street crews are taking advantage of another dry day to clean up and clear out more snow.

"There gets to be to a point when we get so much snow, we can't push it back into the parking strip anymore." Sioux Falls Street Supervisor Galynn Huber said.

That makes many city streets too narrow for traffic.  It's why the city prefers to plow curb-to-curb when it can.

"If we're seeing we're not getting it, then we'll go back and try to widen it," Huber said.

But the drawback of cleaner streets can be a rougher ride for drivers.

"Right now, the potholes are starting to pick up. Of course with the freeze-thaw cycle, that's going to happen with the chemicals we put down," Huber said.

Street crews are using a temporary cold-mix material to fill the largest craters until the weather warms up and a more permanent patch can be put down.

"We have crews out today that are potholing but like on the major streets like 41st and Minnesota Avenue, we like to do those in the middle of the night," Huber said.

Creating a safer working environment for road crews and a quicker commute. You can report a street problem anytime by going to the city's website or by calling the pothole hotline at 367-8002.