Timeline altered for Phase Two of Highway 212 rebuild in Watertown (Audio)

August 3, 2020
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.— Phase two of the Highway 212 reconstruction in Watertown gets underway next year, but the actual repaving work will have to wait until 2022. 

Phase Two is the stretch between Highway 81 and 19th Street East.

On Monday night, the city council authorized Mayor Sarah Caron to sign a Joint Powers Agreement with the South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT)  and Municipal Utilities for work associated with the project.

Watertown Public Works Director Heath Von Eye talked about one specific partnership that’s been worked out between the city and the DOT..…

It was hoped that Watertown could partner with the DOT on repaving work on 19th Street as part of this project—but Von Eye says that won’t be happening….

Councilman Glen Vilhauer reminded people that the actual repaving work that’ll be done on 212 as part of phase two has been pushed back one year, although the mayor says some underground storm sewer work will get started  in 2021..….

Phase one of the 212 project between Highways 20 and 81 was done last year, but stretched into this spring because of numerous weather delays.