New interchange proposed for Catron, Hwy. 16

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is hosting an informational meeting about the US Hwy. 16/16B/Catron Blvd. construction project, which will begin this year and last through 2032. 

The meeting will address changes to Catron Blvd., Hwy. 16 and Promise Road. The data shows high crash rates in this area with 45 reported intersection crashes between 2021-25, one of them fatal. This is one of the fastest growing corridors in the area.

Hwy. 16 and Catron will become a single point interchange which may mean changes via traffic signals. Catron Blvd. will pass under Hwy. 16. It will look similar to the interchange at Interstate 90 and Haines Avenue. There will also be improved pedestrian pathways. Promise Road will also get a new traffic light.

There will be three projects to this in all, covering a timespan of six years. Project one has multiple phases including service road closures and detours and two-way traffic on Hwy. 16. Project one will end some time in 2028. It is anticipated construction will start this year or early next year. Construction will take place primarily during the day, Monday-Saturday.

This project is in addition to a larger project originally explained to the public in 2022 where people learned about the proposed reduced conflict intersection that was to be placed at Neck Yoke Road and Hwy. 16. 

At that time it was explained the SDDOT was looking into plans to use that type of intersection all the way along the corridor. 

A reduced conflict intersection is used in some neighboring states, like Minnesota, but are not common in this state.

All turns from the main road are unchanged. Drivers can still turn right onto side streets, and they can still turn left. Drivers who want to make a left from a side street will turn right onto the main road, merge to the left and make a u-turn. Thus, a car wanting to head from Neck Yoke toward Hill City along Hwy. 16 will turn right to do so. 

Drivers will have to follow a similar path to cross Hwy. 16 as well.

Crash history from 2017-21 for both eastbound and westbound on Hwy. 16 shows 24 accidents in the Neck Yoke/Reptile Gardens area, including 13 animal hits, four fixed object off road incidents, three angle-intersection crashes and two sidewipe overtakes. 

The meeting is Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. in the event room at Black Hills Energy, located at 7001 Mount Rushmore Road in Rapid City.