Sioux Falls Hopes to Transform Traffic With Stunning Street Art

Let’s be real, Sioux Falls traffic can be whacked at times. Between the questionable drivers, the occasional street racers, and those “You mean there's someone else on the road besides me, drivers?" Getting around South Dakota's largest city can test even the most patient of us.

The city knows this. And instead of just tossing up more stop signs or traffic lights, Sioux Falls is trying something a little more... artistic.

According to Pigeon 605, the intersection of 11th Street and Phillips Avenue downtown just got a colorful makeover as part of the city’s new Creative Intersections Project.

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This initiative, led by the Downtown Neighborhood Association and funded through the city’s neighborhood association grant program, brings together art and safety in a fresh way.

Local artist and graphic designer, Cam Abbas, was tapped to create a large-scale design that now spans nearly the entire intersection, bright, bold, and impossible to miss. The idea? To catch drivers’ eyes long enough to make them ease off the gas pedal and pay more attention to what (and who) is around them.

The city isn’t just crossing its fingers, though. As Pigeon 605 reports, officials plan to collect traffic data over time to see if this “art meets infrastructure” approach actually works. If the pilot proves successful, Sioux Falls hopes to expand the program to other downtown intersections, with new grants and new artists adding their creativity throughout downtown.

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Abbas told Pigeon 605 that his design was inspired by themes of community, belonging, and nature, a reflection of the spirit he hopes to bring to the city’s streets.

When you think about it, transforming a chaotic intersection into a piece of public art makes downtown both safer and more beautiful. Let's hope this new concept works.

Next time you’re cruising through 11th and Phillips, maybe tap the brakes, take a look around, and enjoy the view, because traffic art might just be Sioux Falls' newest way to paint the town safe.

Source: Pigeon 605