What To Expect From Sioux Falls' Quiet Zone Railroad Project

In order to make Sioux Falls a quieter place, downtown drivers will have to endure a detour that will last for two months.

Starting May 26th, the intersection at Eighth Street and Weber Avenue will be closed to thru traffic for work related to the Downtown Whistle Reduction Project.

The $1.6 million 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.

Construction will include 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.

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.

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 intersection is expected to reopen in late July.

Once that work 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.

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Iconic Sioux Falls: Phillips Avenue Diner, a Downtown Gem

I'll never forget the best malt I ever had. It was many years ago at a new restaurant in Sioux Falls. The restaurant was housed in a silver Airstream trailer on Louise Avenue and was called The Market Diner. The malt was so creamy and I think it was probably the first time I'd ever had whipped cream on top of a malt.

The Market Diner was a unique '50s-style dining experience with neon signs, classic vinyl booths, stainless steel counter stools, and even a jukebox.

That was over 20 years ago. The Market Diner became Dixie Brothers Grill and eventually closed.

A few years later, the trailer was moved to a downtown location on Phillips Avenue, extensively remodeled and renamed Phillips Avenue Diner. The malts have not changed, nor has the diner ambiance.

POSE: Phillips Avenue Diner is South Dakota's Most Instagrammed Restaurant

My niece Ashlea and I ventured downtown and had lunch at Phillips Avenue Diner. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites. It's diner classics turned up a notch.

The breakfast menu includes omelets, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and of course waffles. Recently, Phillips Avenue Diner's waffles were named the best in South Dakota according to Food Network.

Ashlea had the Ranch Burger and it came topped with bacon, onion rings, American cheese, and BBQ sauce. She substituted sweet potato fries.

My selection was the Burger of Champions. You can substitute a chicken breast for any burger, so I had mine with chicken, Applewood bacon, ham, and American cheese. It also comes with a hard-fried egg on top, but I chose to hold that.

Eat local. Some of the best food and atmosphere can be found at local, non-national chain restaurants. Try Phillips Avenue Diner at 121 S. Phillips Avenue and explore downtown Sioux Falls while you're at it.

Check out the menu here and enjoy one of Sioux Falls' iconic restaurants.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Flashback 1992: Inside Sioux Falls Old Washington High School

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

What Did South Dakota's License Plate Look Like the Year You Were Born?

The first number on a South Dakota license plate is the county that the car is registered. For example, Pennington county where Rapid City is has a '2' starting its plates. In Sioux Falls you have either a '1' or a '44' depending on your relationship to 57th street.

When established in 1956 (and revised in 1987) the first nine counties were ordered by population. Starting with 10 they are in alphabetical order through Ziebach, with Oglala Lakota County (65) and Todd (67) rounding out the list.

Today the top 10 plate numbers and populations don't correlate anymore. 1 and 2 are still 1 and 2, but Lincoln (44) is now 3rd in population. Beadle is 4 but it's now 11th in population. See the list by population here.

On January 1, 2023, South Dakota started issuing a new license plate design for license plates.

So, let's take a look back at what South Dakota license plates looked like over the last 100 years.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

Source: Big Changes Ahead For Railroad Crossings In Downtown Sioux Falls

Filed Under: Downtown Sioux Falls