Transportation & Shipping
With its centralized location, Siouxland cities have access to excellent air, rail, highway, Interstate, water and pipeline transportation networks. Unlike single state locations, the tri-state location provides extraordinary options, choices and ease of accessibility to economical transportation, linking the region to Midwest, U.S. and world destinations.
Current Siouxland Highway Projects
Gordon Drive Viaduct - The Gordon Drive viaduct, originally constructed in 1936, is in critical need of replacement. The viaduct carries 25,000 vehicles daily through downtown Sioux City and connects the east and west sides of our community. TSI continues to work with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), the City of Sioux City, Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO), and Woodbury County on a preferred alternative for replacement of this vital arterial. The public hearing for the preferred alternative will be held in Fall 2024. The estimated cost to replace the Gordon Drive viaduct/Bacon Creek conduit as of November 2022 is $143 million - $178 million and the multi-year construction is scheduled to begin in 2028.
Interchange South of Sioux City - The design of the new Southbridge interchange is underway. The project, as was laid out in the approved Interchange Justification Report (IJR), will be a traditional diamond interchange design with a two-span bridge over Interstate 29 (I-29). 235th Street east of I-29 will be realigned to connect the interchange to the county road system at old Highway 75. The railroad crossing near old Highway 75 will also be realigned and improved with crossing gates and flashers as part of the project. The project will also involve construction of a new segment of 235th Street west of the interchange to a new T intersection with Port Neal Road. The improved 235th Street will be a two lane, 24’ wide concrete pavement with 8’ granular shoulders.
Banner Avenue, which connects 235th Street with 220th Street and runs roughly parallel to I-29, will continue to be a through road and be connected to the realigned 235th Street east of the interchange ramps.
The letting of the project is scheduled to be in January 2026 with construction during calendar year 2026. The current project estimate is $28.1 million based on detailed preliminary plans, not including right-of-way costs. Major construction is anticipated to be completed during the 2026 construction season with the interchange open by late 2026 or early 2027.
Nebraska Highway 35 – The Nebraska Highway 35 Expressway is a 70-mile Planned Project for the Nebraska Expressway System. This diagonal four-lane segment would connect the confluence of four-lane highways coming from the northeast into Sioux City, Iowa with Norfolk, Nebraska and the four-lane Highway 81 Expressway to Interstate 80.
Barge on Missouri River
Big Soo Terminal is a strategically located rail and truck terminal located in the Upper Midwest. With unique multi-modal shipping and receiving options, direct transfer, and warehousing and distribution capabilities, Big Soo Terminal is an ideal supply chain partner for Upper Midwest distribution channels. The Big Soo Terminal facility is located at the head of navigation on the Missouri River and on the Union Pacific railroad. With direct access to major Midwest roadway arteries, Big Soo's one-of-a-kind multi-modal transfer and storage facility can efficiently receive, store, and distribute your products to Upper Midwest agricultural and industrial customers.
Railroad System
Sioux City is one of only a handful of cities nationwide who are served by three Class A rail companies: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), and Canadian National (CN). In addition, D&I Railroad (DAIR) and the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association (SHRA) are Class II and Class III railroads that operate under trackage rights agreements with the Class I railroad companies. The total miles of track operated in Sioux City is 97.23.
Sioux Gateway Airport/Brigadier General Bud Day Field
Sioux Gateway Airport, located on Interstate 29 at exit #141, just seven miles south of Sioux City, boasts a precision instrument primary runway that is 9,002 feet in length. There is also a crosswind runway that is 6,600 feet in length. The airport also has an FAA Control Tower that is staffed from 6 AM to 12 midnight. Other amenities include two passenger-loading bridges to accommodate enplaning and deplaning passengers as well as a Business Service Center inside the terminal. The Business Service Center contains workstations with four feet of workspace, electrical outlets, telephones, and modems. The Siouxland community places a high priority on the improvement of the overall quality of air service for airline passengers, commerce, as well as for corporate and general aviation.
Commercial air service is provided by SkyWest Airlines with service to Chicago O'Hare and Denver International Airport. Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, Revv Aviation, and Oracle Aviation provide extensive services for corporate/private, charter air services and flight training and more.
Sioux Gateway Airport
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services
Revv Aviation
Oracle Aviation
Trucking
The trucking industry provides a viable transportation link north, south, east and west throughout the Siouxland area. Interstate 29 provides an intricate north/south transportation route from Mexico to Canada, running directly through the Siouxland community. East and west routes are served through the U.S. Highway 20 link that connects Chicago and Denver, through Siouxland. Travel to Minneapolis is easily facilitated by using U.S. Highway 75 and U.S. Highway 60, connecting with Interstate 90 and 35.