SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — New interchanges in Sioux Falls and Rapid City seem to be cutting down on crashes.
The diverging diamond at I-29 and 41st Street in Sioux Falls opened nearly a year ago.
According to the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the interchange was averaging over 100 crashes a year before construction.
It’s currently on track to have fewer than 30 in it its first year.
The interchange at Lacrosse Street and I-90 in Rapid City was averaging more than 18 crashes a year before construction.
After about two years of the diverging diamond, crashes are down to roughly seven.
With each car passing through, it’s easy to tell 41st street and I-29 is a busy part of town.
The diverging diamond is designed to help with traffic flow, but that’s not all.
“The big one is safety,” South Dakota Department of Transportation’s Director of Operations Craig Smith said.
KELOLAND News spoke with one driver today who thinks the diverging diamond is a good addition to Sioux Falls.
“I think it’s great. Traffic flows much easier and less accidents and stuff, so I think it’s great,” Vaughn Blaschke said.
“The advantage of the diverging diamond, you eliminate those left turn movements in a traditional interchange situation, so by eliminating that conflict movement you expect to see some reduction in crashes,” Smith said.
Fewer crashes at the pair of interchanges in Sioux Falls and Rapid City is encouraging news for Smith.
“There’s a big investment to make a change like that, so to see what we were expecting to happen actually happening out there is great to see,” Smith said.
There are currently three diverging diamonds in South Dakota.
The third one is also in Sioux Falls.
It’s located at Benson Road and I-229.
A fourth diverging diamond is in the works near Brandon and I-90.
