Highway Updates and Winter Safety Reminders Highlight Codington County Commissioners Meeting

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - During the Codington County Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, Highway Superintendent Randy Falvey provided a comprehensive update on infrastructure projects and safety reminders as the area enters the winter season.

Infrastructure and Bridge Progress

Falvey reported that Grangaard Construction Inc. is making steady progress on the 14th Avenue bridge project, currently focusing on water diversion efforts. However, the project site has seen traffic issues. Falvey noted a second recent accident on the west side of the bridge, described as a hit-and-run that destroyed a "road closed" barricade.

It has been observed that many motorists are utilizing the 7th St. cutover to bypass the site rather than following the established complete detour on 10th Ave.

In other shop updates:

·        Equipment: Final preparations are underway for a new dump truck, including adjustments to the snowplow mount and the addition of a chipper hitch before it enters full service.

·        Facility Upgrades: Basin Construction, Overhead Door, and Westwire Electric are nearing completion on the first phase of the truck storage upgrade project. With doors installed and electrical work finishing, crews have begun repainting and reorganizing the shop. Planning for the second phase of this project is underway with Banner Engineering.

·        Roads and Maintenance: Planning has also commenced for next year’s rehabilitation of County Roads 7 and 10. Additionally, Midwest Pipe Lining recently finished cleaning and lining county sewer pipes.

Winter Weather and Snow Removal PSA 

Following several minor snow events that required sanding and scraping, Falvey issued a public service announcement regarding snow removal etiquette.

Residents are reminded that plowing snow across roadways or into the right-of-way (ROW) is subject to strict regulations. If snow is moved into these areas, it must be cleared entirely off the road surface and placed far enough into the ROW to avoid obstructing county snow removal equipment. Failure to comply can result in a $100.00 fine, with an additional $200.00 fee if county crews are required to clear the area.