Transportation Commission Awards Funding for Forty Local Bridge Projects

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

Contact:

Doug Kinniburgh, Local Government Assistance, 605-773-4284

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Transportation Commission awarded funding for forty local bridge projects totaling approximately $3.5 million at their regularly scheduled meeting in Pierre on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026.

"Safe and efficient access to destinations such as schools, hospitals, farms, and ranchlands are critical to our way of life in South Dakota," said SDDOT Secretary Joel Jundt. "With over 80,000 miles of roadway and 5,700 bridges across our state, sound and timely investments like these ensure our communities continue to thrive both today and into the future."

Overall, one hundred and eight applications were received. Awards were divided into two major categories: local bridge design funded through federal highway funding and local bridge preliminary engineering funded through the Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG).

Seventy applications were received for project design funded through federal highway funding and twelve were approved to be added to the 2027 - 2030 STIP for approximately $2.08 million. Project recipients are Gregory County, Yankton County, City of Gary (two projects), Roberts County (one project), Spink County (one project), Grant County (two projects), Meade County (one project), Codington County (one project), Deuel County (one project), and McCook County (one project).

Thirty-eight applications for Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) preliminary engineering survey and hydraulic studies were received and twenty-four were approved to be added by addendum to the 2026-2029 STIP for approximately $1.4 million. County project recipients are Beadle (two projects), Butte (two projects), Codington (two projects), Deuel (one project), Grant (two projects), Hughes (two projects), Lincoln (four projects), Minnehaha (two projects), Moody (one project), Perkins (one project), Roberts (two projects), Union (two projects), and Yankton (one project).

Application Deadline:

Applications for the next round of the BIG program are due Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027, for the Preservation and Replacement category.

Contact:

For more information regarding the BIG program, contact Doug Kinniburgh at 605-773-4284 or visit https://dot.sd.gov/doing-business/local-governments/bridge-improvement-grants.

About the SDDOT:

The mission of the South Dakota Department of Transportation is to provide a safe and efficient public transportation system.

Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions, and traffic incidents, please visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.

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