South Dakota transportation officials have approved roughly $3.5 million for 40 local bridge projects across the state, directing state and federal transportation funding toward bridge design, engineering surveys and hydraulic studies.
The South Dakota Transportation Commission selected the projects from 108 applications submitted by local governments. The awards are split between federally funded bridge-design projects and preliminary engineering work supported through the state’s Bridge Improvement Grant program.
“Safe and efficient access to destinations such as schools, hospitals, farms, and ranchlands are critical to our way of life in South Dakota,” Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt said. “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.”
The commission approved 12 projects for approximately $2.08 million in federal highway funding for bridge design. Those projects will be added to South Dakota’s 2027-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
Recipients include Gregory, Yankton, Roberts, Spink, Grant, Meade, Codington, Deuel and McCook counties, as well as the city of Gary. Gary and Grant County each received funding for two projects.
The state received 70 applications for the federally funded design program.
Another approximately $1.4 million was awarded for 24 projects through the Bridge Improvement Grant program. The money will pay for preliminary engineering surveys and hydraulic studies, with the projects being added to the 2026-2029 transportation improvement program.
Those awards went to projects in Beadle, Butte, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hughes, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Moody, Perkins, Roberts, Union and Yankton counties. Lincoln County received funding for four projects, the most of any county in that round.
The state received 38 applications for the preliminary engineering grants.
The investments come as South Dakota maintains a sprawling transportation network serving both its population centers and rural agricultural communities. The state has more than 80,000 miles of roadway and approximately 5,700 bridges.