City to Begin Downtown Rail Crossing Work May 26

Published on May 21, 2026

Beginning May 26, construction is scheduled to begin at the Eighth Street and Weber Avenue railroad crossing as part of the Downtown Whistle Reduction Project. The Eighth Street and Weber Avenue crossing will be closed to traffic during construction through late July.

The City of Sioux Falls’ Downtown Whistle Reduction Project involves improvements to key railroad crossings downtown that meet federal requirements and would allow the city to request certification from BNSF Railway for future quiet zone designation. This designation would allow train engineers to stop routinely sounding horns at public crossings. Reducing disruptive noise pollution from train horns can improve residents’ quality of life and support economic development.

“The Downtown Whistle Reduction Project is an important investment in both public safety and quality of life downtown,” said Mark Cotter, the city’s Public Works director. “We have been working for several years to bring this project to fruition, and we are excited to begin this critical next step.”

Construction includes upgrades to railroad warning systems, installation of crossing gates and signal equipment, roadway modifications and median improvements designed to meet federal quiet zone safety requirements. The project budget is $1.6 million.

Once designated as a quiet zone, train horns may still be used in emergency situations or to comply with federal regulations and railroad operating rules.

After work at Eighth Street and Weber Avenue is completed, construction will move to the Third Street and Weber Avenue intersection. The Third Street and Weber Avenue crossing will be closed to traffic during construction through early October.

For the Eighth Street and Weber Avenue closure, vehicle traffic will detour to Sixth Street and pedestrian access will be maintained on Eighth Street. Pedestrian traffic on Weber Avenue will be detoured along Seventh Street to Nesmith Avenue before reconnecting with Eighth Street.

The project also includes work already completed at the intersection of Sixth Street and Weber Avenue.

For more information about this project visit siouxfalls.gov/whistle-reduction.