Western Avenue and 95th Street Intersection Opens Friday

A newly constructed roundabout intersection at 95th Street and Western Avenue in southern Sioux Falls will open on Friday, August 9, 2024. Western Avenue from south of 95th Street to Lincoln County Highway 106 will remain closed until later this year as construction of the intersection at Western Avenue and South Veterans Parkway continues. 

A roundabout was chosen for the 95th Street and Western Avenue intersection because of its vehicle and pedestrian safety enhancements and improved traffic flow. Studies have shown that roundabouts can reduce traffic accidents and high-speed collisions because they naturally force vehicles to slow down, which benefits drivers and pedestrians. They also do not have signals, so traffic can continuously flow. 

“Roundabouts are a great tool for traffic engineering, as they keep vehicles and people moving in a safer and more efficient manner,” said Mike Heiberger, Principal Engineer for the City of Sioux Falls. “The roundabout is a win for the neighborhood, especially with the heavy pedestrian traffic that comes from the nearby schools. Big picture, we also needed to ensure traffic can move smoothly along Western Avenue as it leads into the new intersection that is being constructed at Western Avenue and South Veterans Parkway.” 

The roundabout is located next to Harrisburg North Middle School and Endeavor Elementary School. The school year begins on August 20. 

“We are very appreciative of the cooperation, timeliness, and level of professionalism of the City and engineering staff with which we communicated and collaborated with on this project,” said Tim Graf, superintendent of the Harrisburg School District. “The communication and coordination was excellent and we are thankful the timelines will be met and the roundabout will be open in time for the beginning of the school year.” 

Construction on the South Veterans Parkway section between Western and Cliff Avenues began in June 2023 and will continue through 2024. Construction of the southern portion of Veterans Parkway will occur in segments, with each segment taking about two years to complete. For more information about the South Veterans Parkway project, visit www.southveteransparkway.com. 

About South Veterans Parkway 

South Veterans Parkway is the remaining 8.7 miles of Veterans Parkway that will connect Interstate 29 to Interstate 90. In 2020, the northern segment of Veterans Parkway opened to traffic, and the South Dakota Transportation Commission agreed to complete construction of South Veterans Parkway to accommodate regional and future growth and development. Construction began in summer 2023 and will occur in segments, with each segment taking about two years to complete. The project is anticipated to be fully completed in 2027. For more information, visit www.southveteransparkway.com.