This fall, the intersection of 16th St. SW and 1st Ave. SW, near Dairy Queen and Walmart, will be under construction. The City Council approved a bid for this work on Wednesday.
The project will widen this intersection to help prepare the area for the Highway 75 reconstruction planned for 2023-25. That larger project ultimately involves rebuilding 16th Street SW from Highway 75 to this intersection to offer two lanes in each direction and parallel sidewalks, designed to allow for safer vehicle and pedestrian movements in this high-traffic area.
“The reconstruction of Highway 75 is a once-in-50-years project, so this intersection work is part of long-term planning for this area,” Utilities Manager Murray Hulstein said. “We want to connect to the Highway 75 construction and set this area up well for continued growth.”
The 16th Street/1st Avenue intersection work is anticipated to begin in early fall and with much of it complete by mid-November.
During this intersection project, the plan is to maintain traffic, although travelers should anticipate taking extra caution and time to move through the area, Hulstein said.
Reconstruction of Highway 75 and part of 16th Avenue is set to begin in the second half of 2023 and continue through 2025. Designed to improve safety and function and showcase Sioux Center’s character, this multi-year construction project will convert the existing Highway 75 from 20th Street South to 12th Street North into four lanes of traffic with center turning lanes and medians.