By Brandon Bennett
STURGIS— Even as the city of Sturgis prepares to upgrade Avalanche Road once the Harvest Meadows subdivision is completed, plans are also in the works to upgrade Otter and Racoon Roads. Public Works Director Rick Bush said so.
The City of Sturgis is preparing to advertise for bids on the Otter Road and Racoon Road Reconstruction Project, a significant infrastructure investment that will improve one of the community’s important residential and collector roadway corridors.
The project is being undertaken due to the aging condition of both roadways. Years of wear, weather, and increasing traffic have resulted in deteriorating pavement and a roadway structure that has reached the end of its useful life. Rather than continuing with costly maintenance repairs, the City has developed a long-term reconstruction plan that will restore the roads and extend their service life for decades to come.
The project will reconstruct approximately 1.2 miles of Otter Road and Racoon Road through a full-depth roadway rehabilitation process. Improvements include full-depth pavement reclamation, roadway base stabilization, placement of new aggregate base and asphalt pavement, limited curb and gutter replacement, and pavement markings. These improvements are designed to provide a smoother, safer, and more durable roadway while reducing future maintenance costs.
“This project represents an important investment in one of Sturgis’ established neighborhoods,” said Public Works Director Rick Bush. “The existing pavement has served the community for many years, but its condition now warrants a complete reconstruction rather than continued repairs. Once completed, residents can expect a much smoother ride, improved drainage, enhanced pedestrian accessibility, and a roadway designed to serve the neighborhood well into the future.” This project will also tie in with the Moose Drive and Bike Path project that is expected to be let in 2027.
The City anticipates advertising the project for bids on July 30 and August 6, with bid opening scheduled for the week following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Contractors will have the opportunity to bid two construction schedules:
Alternate 1: Completion by November 1, 2026
Alternate 2: Completion by July 1, 2027
Providing two completion alternatives is intended to maximize contractor participation and encourage competitive pricing while giving bidders flexibility in scheduling the work.
The Otter Road and Racoon Road Reconstruction Project is another example of the City’s continued commitment to maintaining and improving critical public infrastructure. Upon completion, the project will provide lasting benefits to residents, improve neighborhood connectivity, enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians, and preserve an important transportation asset for years to come.
