STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council approved a purchase aggrement Monday night that will allow the city to buy the former Caddy’s Restaurant building, which adjoins the Best Western Motel just off I-90’s Exit 32.
The city doesn’t plan on utilizing the building – rather, it seeks to tear it down to complete a future realignment and signalization of Junction Avenue and Anna Street.
Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie says the reconfiguration of the Junction/Anna Street intersection has been talked about for years.
The purchase of the former Caddy’s presents an opportunity to get it done.
He says the plan is to install an intersection where Anna meets Junction now, and continue on the former Caddy’s property, where it would connect with Vanocker Canyon Road. The existing east-west portion of Vanocker Canyon Road that intersects with Junction would be abandoned.
Ainslie says the existing intersection where Anna meets Junction presents a significant traffic concern as travelers heading south bound on Junction turning onto Anna often face vehicles traveling northbound on Junction seeking to turn into the Best Western or Exxon gas station.
The former restaurant building will cost the city approximately $320,000. An additional $175,000 is expected to demolish the building and provide some reconstruction for the Best Western. The cost to construct the new road and intersection is estimated at $1.1-million.
Ainslie says the five-year capital improvement budget allocates $400,00 for the purchase, demolition and reconstruction costs. An additional $800,000 was allocated to cover construction costs, but Ainslie says new estimates indicate approximately another $445,000 will be needed when construction begins in 2023.
