VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - The University of South Dakota wants to separate its $58 million athletic facility expansion plan into two separate projects.

USD athletic director David Sayler tells the Yankton Press and Dakotan (http://bit.ly/R7CXA1) that the university wants flexibility to build the projects in phases instead of waiting for all the money together.

The school will make a request to the state Board of Regents on Wednesday.

The initial estimate for the projects included $40.3 million for a new 6,000-seat basketball and volleyball arena, $10.6 million for a connector building from the DakotaDome and $7.9 million for an outdoor track and soccer complex.

USD is now seeking approval of a $10.6 million Science, Health and Research Lab facility for the occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician's assistant, and kinesiology and sports sciences programs.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed.

More From KSOO-AM / ESPN Sioux Falls