Here’s where Sioux Falls is adding, adjusting traffic signals this year

New traffic signals will be going in at intersections across Sioux Falls this year.

“We’ve got six going in for sure,” said Heath Hoftiezer, traffic operations engineer for the city of Sioux Falls.

Plus, the city will be working to improve traffic flow and signal timing in other areas. Here’s a look at which areas will be impacted:

57th Street and Graystone Avenue

This southeast Sioux Falls intersection is “probably the most asked about one we get from the public now,” Hoftiezer said.

Why? Qwik Star. When the convenience store opened late last year, the traffic pattern in the area changed considerably.

“We’ve already bid it (the traffic signal), so work should be starting,” Hoftiezer said.

10th and Prairie Avenue, 11th and Prairie Avenue

These central Sioux Falls intersections are part of the 15th Street Bicycle Boulevard, a newly designated route to get through town from the bike trail.

“There’s some starting to bike that way now,” Hoftiezer said, adding the new signals should be in by the end of the summer. “We’re chipping away trying to make it a better route every year.”

There’s a plan to add more signs to connect from the trail downtown through central Sioux Falls to Kiwanis Avenue.

“There’s gravel from the trail to Kiwanis and we’re going to pave to make it a better experience for everybody,” Hoftiezer said.

Veterans Parkway: Cliff, Minnesota and Western avenues

The new Veterans Parkway corridor has been making progress all winter, and now it’s time for traffic signals to be installed at key intersections.

You won’t actually start using them until the segment of Veterans Parkway is done at the end of the year — and you won’t really see them in use until the whole corridor is done, which is estimated for 2027.

85th Street and Western Avenue

This much-requested traffic signal already has been installed as a temporary signal for construction this season and “We’re keeping it in place until we build out 85th Street and rebuild the intersection, which will be a few years yet, and then it will be like a full regular intersection,” Hoftiezer said, acknowledging because of all the overhead power lines “we couldn’t string it all the way around the intersection, so it’s got an odd look.”

The city also is monitoring construction-related delays throughout south Sioux Falls, including Minnesota, Western and Louise avenues.

“We’ve had to do a lot on the south end of town to keep traffic moving,” Hoftiezer said. “Nobody wants to be slowed down, but we’re not really getting complaints, so hopefully we’re managing to a point.”

East Tenth Street

A large overlay project on East Tenth Street also will provide a chance to replace two traffic controllers.

“We changed out some of the infrastructure so they communicate to each other better, and we have timing changes we’re putting in trying to make the whole corridor better,” Hoftiezer said.

What’s next

Other projects for the season will include working through the launch of the first diverging diamond interchange and related traffic signals at West 41st Street.

The area around Jefferson High School will see some new phasing with left turn signals to help with traffic movement around the school.

The city also plans more than 150 traffic counts at intersections in preparation for future projects.