Codington County Faces $24 Million Bridge Work Backlog; New Load Postings Announced

Codington County contends with a $24 million bridge repair backlog, leading to the closure of numerous bridges and the announcement of new load postings.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Codington County Commissioners received a comprehensive overview of the county's bridge system condition and future needs during a presentation by Mark Junker and Josh Olson of Banner Associates. The report, delivered at a recent commission meeting, detailed the significant financial commitment required for upcoming bridge replacement projects and announced new weight restrictions on two key structures.

Junker, a licensed engineer who has worked with the county's bridge system for 22 years, highlighted that the current five-year plan for bridge work in Codington County exceeds $24 million, with the local share estimated at approximately $7.8 million. The report stressed that bridge-replacement needs are currently outpacing available funding.

Current State of the Bridge System

Codington County owns and maintains 42 bridges, which are required by federal law to be inspected every 2 years. Of this total, the report noted several challenges:

· Condition: 12 bridges, or about 29% of the system, are currently rated in poor condition. The remaining bridges are categorized as fair to good.

·Weight Restrictions: 10 bridges, or nearly a quarter of the system, currently have weight limit restrictions. This includes four on county asphalt roads, one on a county gravel road, and the rest on township roads.

·Future Needs: Banner Associates has identified approximately 12 bridges requiring replacement in the next 10 years, with another four identified for the decade following.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) covers 80% of the bridge inspection costs, with the county responsible for the remaining 20%.

Two Bridges Receive New Weight Restrictions

Effective immediately, two bridges will see new or further reduced weight restrictions:

1.162nd Street (Township Road over Big Sioux): This bridge, already restricted, will see a further reduction in its weight limit. Yunker noted that the bridge, now 52 years old, is nearing the end of its typical 50-year lifespan due to rotting timber abutments, a common issue for this type of structure.

2. County Highway 11 (Old Highway 81), South of Highway 20: This 85-year-old bridge, which previously carried legal loads, now requires a load posting due to corrosion of its steel beams. This bridge is the sister structure to one north of Highway 20 that has already secured federal funding for replacement.

Focus on Priority Replacements and Future Planning

Looking ahead, the county is moving forward with key replacement projects while proactively planning for structures approaching their expiration date:

·  14th Avenue Northwest Bridge: This replacement project, which has received federal funding, is scheduled to begin within the next two to three weeks, with a planned construction start in the second week of November. The total project is anticipated to take 275 calendar days, putting the estimated completion date at the end of July or early August 2026. Yunker expressed optimism that starting in winter will allow contractors to get foundations and riprap completed before spring runoff.

·  County Gravel Highway 2 (Cottonwood Street over Big Sioux): This bridge is in "serious condition" and currently has a five-ton weight limit. Banner Associates will apply for federal funding before Christmas to replace the structure, as Yunker stated that without replacement funding, the bridge is likely to be closed in a future inspection cycle.

·  Highway 11 Bridges (Two New Additions to Five-Year Plan): Two bridges on Highway 11, a critical trucking route for operations like ConAg, are recommended to be added to the five-year plan. Both are in fair condition, but have 43- to 46-year-old timber abutments that show early signs of rot. Getting these into the plan now will enable proactive replacement planning.

Maintenance Successes and Funding Challenges

Commissioners were shown examples of essential maintenance, including a recent repair to a beam on Highway 7 damaged by ice, and a riprap repair west of the casino on Highway 6, which the county undertook after failing to secure state funding. Junker also praised the County Highway shop for completing abutment and riprap repairs using their own forces, noting that this proactive maintenance prevents minor issues from becoming major, costly problems.

On the financing front, Yunker confirmed that the primary funding mechanism is the state's Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) program, which provides an annual $15 million pool. All counties in South Dakota compete for this funding, which the presenters noted "is not going very far anymore." Federal funding programs, which have previously been instrumental in replacing bridges on Highway 20 and 14th Avenue Northwest, have not been available for the past two years, adding additional pressure on the BIG program and local budgets.

The presentation concluded with a note of optimism, highlighting the recently completed Highway 20 bridge over the Big Sioux—a brand-new, long-lifespan structure—and emphasizing the need for continued routine maintenance, such as deck sealing, to ensure its longevity.