Codington County Approves Engineering Contract for 5-Mile County Road 11 Upgrade Near Watertown

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, unanimously approved an engineering contract proposal with Banner Associates for planning, survey, design, and bidding services along a 5-mile stretch of County Road 11 north of Watertown.

Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey presented the contract proposal to the commission, noting that the project covers County Road 11—formerly Old Highway 81—starting at County Road 6, the road leading to Dakota Sioux Casino, and extending south into Watertown.

Addressing Heavy Truck Traffic Deterioration

According to Falvey, heavy truck traffic along the corridor has caused considerable surface deterioration. A couple of years ago, the county repaved the northern section of the road from County Road 6 up to ConAgra, and the Highway Department is now shifting its focus to the southern 5-mile segment heading into town.

Because County Road 11 is a former state highway with a solid subsurface—confirmed by core sampling already conducted by the county—Falvey said the project is currently expected to be a mill and overlay. The base cost for the planning and design phase with Banner Associates is approximately $40,000.

Future Microseal Consideration

In addition to the mill and overlay design on the southern stretch, Falvey noted the county is also considering a future microseal treatment on the section of County Road 11 north of ConAgra.

In response to a question from Chairman Troy VanDusen, Falvey explained that a microseal is similar to a standard chip seal but features a more structured design that adheres tightly to the pavement, filling in low spots and leveling out the road surface.

Commissioner Myron Johnson made the motion to approve the contract proposal with Banner Associates, which was seconded by Commissioner Tyler McElhany. The motion passed unanimously.