Several concerned citizens attended the special July Wagner City Council meeting Monday, July 19 with concerns of the city and DOT's plans for Highway 46.

Jay Peppell of the Mitchell area DOT office gave updates and answered questions regarding the SD Highway 46 reconstruction, tentatively scheduled for 2023 and 2024.

Peppell reported the concrete highway has been in place since 1991. He originally approached the council approximately five or six years ago and asked what their needs and concerns were. The council reported they were concerned with pedestrian safety, storm water drainage by the Wagner City Park and the sidewalks.

With the DOT's proposed three lane conversion, they would be addressing all of these needs and concerns. Peppell reported that doing an asphalt overlay is only a band-aid on the problem and is the only other option for the city at this time as the highway does not meet the warrants to have a 4-lane reconstruction project. With the 3-lane reconstruction, the city would get new sewer, new drains, new lighting and a walk path all along the highway on both sides and the highway would narrow 10'.

A traffic study was completed showing Wagner with a daily average of 4,500 in 2019. Peppell was not able to give an exact time-frame of when this study was completed though which raised questions with those attending as traffic numbers change throughout the year.

Those in attendance voiced their concerns with turning lanes for trucks, room for farm equipment traveling through town and being able to pass. The three lanes could cause a slowing down of traffic as there would only be one driving lane with a turning lane in the middle. This caused concern with fire and ambulance access and being able to get where they needed to with only one lane traffic. Another concern was garbage removal, where are the garbage trucks to go to pick up the trash for residents that live along the highway that do not have alleys.

Peppell stated that the truck route corners would be widened for trucks and semis.

Peppell encouraged the council and the public to contact other towns that have gone to a 3- lane highway, such as Milbank, Miller, Ipswich, Gettysburg, Woonsocket and Platte to see how they are adapting to their 3-lane. He added that this plan has been in the works for several years and the community is now just bringing up these concerns.

Other comments by the public were installing a flashing yellow pedestrian light at the corner by Casey's and near the city park for pedestrian safety and possibly looking into a right turning lane to the school coming in from the west. Peppell stated these were things that could be looked into but if the city decides to keep the highway a 4-lane, they will only get an asphalt overlay and the DOT will not proceed with a complete reconstruction.

Citizens now ask, will there be another public meeting to allow more time for questions and concerns to be discussed about the project and a chance for the DOT to answer some of the questions presented. Concerned citizens have started a petition to keep the current 4-lane and are contacting State Representatives.