Codington County Closes Unsafe Cottonwood Street Bridge Near Watertown After Inspection

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey delivered an extensive monthly update Tuesday, reporting a series of active construction projects, new maintenance work, and growing concerns over aging county bridges — including one that was closed immediately due to structural failure.

Falvey said Banner Associates completed the county’s annual bridge inspections on Monday, and one structure on Cottonwood Street was found to be unsafe.

“Unfortunately, we did have to close one of the bridges on Cottonwood Street due to further deterioration with the piles and portion of the structure,” Falvey told commissioners. “It’s not safe right now to be driving over that.”

The bridge is located three miles south of the county line, north of County Road 17 near Cottonwood Lake. New signage is being installed, and the closure is now in effect.

County Will Reapply for BIG Funding

Falvey confirmed the county will again apply for a Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) to replace the Cottonwood Street structure. Codington County narrowly missed funding last year “by half a percentage,” he said.

The replacement would include a larger structure designed to improve water flow and long‑term stability.

Falvey said he has already coordinated with the school district and nearby landowners. Bus routes have been adjusted, and local farm access is expected to remain manageable.

Additional Bridge Concerns Emerging

Another bridge north of the Cottonwood Street closure is showing deck separation, though it remains open. Falvey is arranging a structural review.

He also met with Northern Con‑Agg and Rawlins Township officials regarding two bridges east of the Dakota Sioux Casino on County Road 11. Both structures have an estimated five‑year remaining lifespan, posing future impacts for heavy industrial traffic.

“Most of these bridges are about 50 years old, and everything is coming due at once,” Falvey said.

The county is exploring alternative haul routes, including a potential south connection to Highway 6.

Construction & Maintenance Updates

Falvey reported progress on several active projects:

·         Truck Storage Remodel: Basin Construction and Century Electric have begun conduit work. Insulation delivery is delayed but expected by week’s end. Exterior siding will follow.

·         43rd Street Riprap Project: Holloway Construction is repairing water‑damaged areas north of the FedEx facility.

·         Chip Sealing: County crews have begun seasonal chip sealing. Drivers should expect slow-moving equipment, fresh oil, and loose gravel.

·         Hot Box Patching: The county borrowed a hot box from the City of Watertown to smooth divots ahead of chip sealing.

·         Storm Cleanup: Crews spent part of last week clearing tree debris after a storm that dropped roughly 2.5 inches of rain.

Falvey also announced the hiring of a new Maintenance II employee at $27.66 per hour, following recent interviews.

2027 Budget Review

Falvey presented a detailed 2027 budget request, noting both increases and reductions across multiple categories:

Key Increases

·         4% wage increase and full staffing for the first time in several years

·         24% increase in health insurance, driven by younger employees with larger families

·         Utilities increase due to heating the truck storage building

·         $100,000 increase in capital improvements for resurfacing County Road 11

Key Decreases

·         34% reduction in repairs and maintenance after completing several equipment projects

·         17.5% decrease in the “other expenses” category due to a smaller bridge project

·         20% reduction in machinery and equipment purchases — limited to a hot box, water tanker, and generator

Overall, the highway department’s budget reflects a 6.8% decrease from last year.

Commissioners had no additional questions.

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