The South Dakota Transportation Commission this week awarded 27 preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement Bridge Improvement Grants (BIG) totaling approximately $14 million to local governments.
The bridge improvement grant recipients included Aurora County, Beadle County, the city of Belle Fourche, Bon Homme County, Brookings County, Butte County, Davison County, Day County, Hamlin County, the city of Huron, Lake County, Lawrence County, Marshall County, Mellette County, the city of Mitchell, the city of Sioux Falls, the city of Spearfish, Spink County, Stanley County, and the city of Watertown.
The South Dakota DOT (SDDOT) received 41 applications totaling $29.3 million in project costs. Six cities submitted nine applications, and 19 counties submitted 32 applications.
Local governments are required to pay a minimum of 20% matching funds and have three years to expend the grant. Counties must have a wheel tax and a five-year Highway and Bridge Improvement Plan in order to receive a grant.
The $15 million BIG program was created in 2015 and is funded through $7 million per year from funds generated by license plate fees and $8 million from SDDOT.
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SOURCE: South Dakota DOT
