James River Bridge Replacement to Close Major Yankton County Roads Starting Jan. 20

Northeast Radio SD News – Yankton County, SD - The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has announced that a major bridge reconstruction project will begin Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, leading to a long-term closure of two key county highways.

Yankton County Highway 587 (Stone Church Road) and County Highway 217 (Northwest Jim River Road) will be closed to through traffic to accommodate the replacement of the James River Bridge. The $7.5 million project includes the complete replacement of the existing bridge structure along with approach grading work.

Detour and Access Information

The SDDOT has established a designated detour route to assist motorists during the closure. Traffic will be diverted at the intersection of 431st Avenue to:

·        S.D. Highway 46

·        S.D. Highway 25

·        U.S. Highway 18

While the highways will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the two-year project, the SDDOT confirmed that access to adjacent properties will be maintained throughout the construction period.

Project Timeline and Oversight

Grangaard Construction, based in Watertown, has been named the prime contractor for the project. The bridge replacement is expected to take nearly two years, with an overall completion date set for Nov. 19, 2027.

Motorists are encouraged to plan for extra travel time and to stay updated on road conditions, construction zones, and traffic incidents by visiting https://sd511.org or by dialing 511.