Codington County Highway Department Begins Major Road Resurfacing, Bridge Work Near Watertown

Steve Jurrens
Aug 19
2 min read

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Codington County Highway Department is moving into late summer at full operational capacity, tackling road resurfacing, bridge maintenance, and ongoing shop renovations, according to Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey’s monthly report to the Board of County Commissioners.

Falvey reported steady progress on the department’s main facility renovation project, which is nearing completion on its exterior and structural insulation.

“Contractors continue working on the remodel,” Falvey told commissioners. “The ceiling and walls in the truck storage area have been insulated along with the walls in the shop area. Majority of the exterior siding has been finished.”

New windows and walk-in doors have been installed in the shop area while electricians work to transition the facility’s main electrical infrastructure. Although large portions of the facility are currently without power while interior preparation continues, Falvey confirmed that department operations remain fully functional.

Permanent Bridge Signage and Completed Maintenance

Following the emergency closure of the Cottonwood Street bridge over the Big Sioux River due to piling decay, the county has ordered permanent closure signage to replace current temporary barricades.

The department is also obtaining cost estimates from Holloway Construction to address repairs on the bridge structure immediately north of the Cottonwood site. Holloway Construction recently completed two critical erosion control projects in the county, placing protective riprap along 458th Street north of Highway 212 and along County Road 3.

Drivers Urged to Use Caution on Freshly Chip-Sealed Roads

As annual chip sealing operations wrap up in Kranzburg, Falvey issued a safety advisory for county motorists regarding loose aggregate remaining on fresh asphalt.

“Just an announcement to the public, just realize that there’s still loose gravel out there,” Falvey noted. “People just need to be cautious and be aware of it. We don’t sweep it off right away because with heat and whatnot, the oil is still movable on that road surface, so that gravel has to stay on there for a bit.”

Loose gravel will remain on treated surfaces through mid-September before sweeping operations begin.

Major Resurfacing Begins as Department Reaches Full Staffing

Crews are officially kicking off a major resurfacing project along County Road 7 (169th Street) and Highway 10 (460th Avenue). Motorists should anticipate partial road closures over the next month and a half, with completion estimated for late September.

The heavy late-summer workload coincides with the highway department returning to 100% staffing levels. A newly hired operator, Jan Dailey, filled the vacant Henry-area maintenance position and began training this week.