The Iowa Department of Transportation says planning continues for several safety improvements at busy Sioux County intersections, including previously announced roundabouts at the junction of U.S. Highway 18 and U.S. Highway 75 north of Sioux Center.
The proposed roundabouts at what is commonly known as Perkins Corner were first discussed earlier this year after a series of serious crashes at the intersections. Speaking on Sioux County Radio’s The Daily Grind yesterday, District 3 Transportation Planner Sarah Tracy said safety concerns at the intersections prompted the Iowa DOT to begin evaluating long-term improvements.
Because of the crash history, Tracy said the DOT reviewed multiple options before coming to its conclusion.
Roundabouts are often used at high-crash intersections because they significantly reduce the risk of severe collisions.
The roundabout projects are still in the design phase and would require final approval from the Iowa Transportation Commission before construction could begin.
In the meantime, the DOT has already taken some shorter-term steps at the intersections, including increased Iowa State Patrol enforcement and speed-feedback trailers to alert drivers traveling through the area.
Another roundabout project is expected to begin soon in Cherokee County. Tracy said construction should start in the coming weeks at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 143 in Marcus.
DOT engineers even worked with a local trucking company to test the design by painting the roundabout layout in a large lot and driving a heavy truck through it to ensure oversized vehicles could safely navigate the intersection.
Additional safety improvements are also planned elsewhere in Sioux County.
At the intersection of Highway 75 and Highway 10 near Maurice (commonly known as Million Dollar Corner), right-turn lanes on Highway 75 will be converted to positive offset right-turn lanes. The change will shift the lanes further to the right to improve visibility for drivers stopped on Highway 10.
Tracy said the adjustment is intended to help drivers see oncoming traffic more clearly before entering the intersection.
She added that while no roundabout is currently planned there, one could potentially be considered in the future depending on traffic patterns and safety needs.
The proposed Perkins Corner roundabouts are expected to be coordinated with the future reconstruction of Highway 75 between Sioux Center and the Highway 18 junction later this decade.
