Akron, Iowa residents frustrated over road closure

AKRON, Iowa (KCAU) — Over a month ago, flooding almost took out a vital road to the community of Akron, and residents are skeptical that it will get fixed any time soon.

Once the Big Sioux River Road was closed down, neighbors Angela Price and Dodie Hook had a long trek to town for a few weeks.

“It’s pretty much the same issue we see every time, which is basically either you’re driving south down to Westfield until that closes, and then when that closes, then you have to go to Jefferson,” Price said. “And when that closes and you end up driving all the way to Sioux City to get all the way around and then you get back up here or you drive north to Hawarden, and if that’s open and if that’s not open, then you have to go further north to Hudson.”

“It’s normally, like I said, a mile or so,” Hook said. “And with that closed, we had to go way around and it was a good 20 plus one way. So I mean, it was adding 20 miles when you’re not used to it, it is kind of a pain.”

While many residents had to navigate around the flooded areas, road closures also meant fewer travelers coming through Akron.

“In our case, there’s very little impact because we sell mostly high end merchandise. So people will get to us either way,” Price said. “But for other businesses, I’ve been told they’ve seen at least a 50% drop in foot traffic. Both grocery store gas stations, that type of thing, they’re not coming into Akron.”

According to officials with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, on Friday, they plan to open a bid to contractors and hopefully start repairs in a week or two. They hope to have the project completed sometime in September.

However, residents say they’ve been in the dark about the road updates and think it’ll take longer than officials say.

“The only thing we’ve heard is they’re making a plan,” Hook said. “Well, like I said, last time this happened, it was eight months. So I’m guessing it’ll be at least that. That bridge is not in good shape.”

“There’s been a trail made on a gravel road to get from Akron to get around to where 48 comes out on the other side of our driveway,” Price said. “Now that there’s traffic that can go back and forth there, I don’t think there’ll be any urgency to get that bridge fixed. So I’m questioning whether they’ll even get it done before spring.”

While the Big Sioux River Road remains under repair, drivers are reminded to pay attention to workers and obey signage.

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