SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Bridges and culverts in poor condition or with deficiencies that are driven on each are day among the 5,889 bridges in the state.
About 963 of those bridges are in poor condition, according to a Consumer Affairs report. March 2024 report from the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
Most of these bridges in poor condition aren’t on state roads, according to a March 2024 report from the South Dakota Department of Transportation. The report said 1.9% or 35 bridges of SD DOT bridges are in poor condition. But about, 65% of the state’s bridges are in fair condition.
While the poor-condition bridges may not be on state roads, they are on county roads and township roads which get daily traffic. And in some cases, they will be on local roads where traffic is increasing.
Counties, cities, townships and other governmental agencies own 3,932 bridge or culvert structures in the state.
The Consumer Affairs report is consistent with other reports on bridge conditions in the state.
South Dakota is in the top three states for bridges in poor condition or deficient bridges, according to two studies. Consumer Affairs and the America Road & Transportation Association (ARTBA) are based on state data and reports from the Federal Highway Administration. South Dakota is ranked third, behind Iowa and West Virginia.
Minnehaha County Highway Superintendent Steve Groen said there are a couple of main reasons why South Dakota has such as high ranking: it is a very rural state and the use of road salt.
During the winter salt or a salt mixture is used to keep bridges and roads clear of ice and some snow. Salt can erode a bridge structure.
Groen said because South Dakota is a very rural state many bridge structures are in counties and townships. The money to fix or replace bridges with deficiencies or in poor condition is limited, he said.
“We have 350 bridges in Minnehaha County. The vast majority are on township roads,” Groen said.
In general, a bridge of 20 feet or larger is a county bridge. Most smaller bridges will be townships but townships mostly have culverts to carry water under a road.
Maintenance of both structures can be expensive.
“The bid range for a culvert can be between $170,000 and $215,000, depending on the size,” said Kristi Anderson, the clerk for Hartford Township.
The township is replacing one of its larger bridges. The final cost will likely be at least around $500,000, Anderson said.
Counties and townships include bridge and culvert replacement and repair in budgets and priorities are set.
Anderson said Hartford Township saves for bridge and culvert projects because it doesn’t want to take out loans to pay for the projects.
Still, projects that cost tens of thousands of dollars eat up a lot of the township budget.
“…townships don’t have a lot of money…,” Anderson said. Much of the budget goes to grading and maintaining roads, she said.
Money from the state helps fix township bridges, culverts
The state stepped in with help in 2021 with the creation of the Rural Access Infrastructure Fund or RAIF. RAIF provides money for two approved township bridge and culvert projects. Townships apply for funding and must meet several requirements including a five-year improvement plan.
“It’s been a huge benefit to a lot of townships in Minnehaha County,” Groen said.
Hartford is one township that has benefitted.
Anderson said the township used RAIF money for its current large bridge project. The township plans to use RAIF money for three culvert projects. The RAIF grant money and township money make projects doable, Anderson said.
Yet, even if a township applies for RAIF grant money, there is no guarantee it will receive it or a guarantee a contractor will even bid on the proposed project.
Townships are required to get project bids before the full application is submitted, Anderson said. The township learns if it’s approved or not in January.
“We don’t,” Anderson said of receiving a lot of interest from contractors. “We really have to ask (contractors) to submit. Nobody else is interested in a job they might or might not get,” Anderson said.
It helps that the county generally allows for projects to be completed in 18 to 24 months because then, contractors could be able to adjust work schedules to fit in a possible project, Anderson said.
Despite some challenges, Anderson said the RAIF money is a big benefit. “Many more townships are figuring out how to apply,” Anderson said.
“Unfortunately, this is the last year it’s funded,” Groen said.
The South Dakota Association of Townships is working with lawmakers to try and extend the RAIF funding, said executive director Terry Sletten.
If the RAIF funding mechanism is not extended, it would come at a time when there is likely more demand.
“Many more townships are figuring out how to apply,” Anderson said.
Meanwhile…
While the state has made progress on replacing or repairing bridges, the Consumer Affairs ranking report shows that progress takes time.
ARTBA said the state ranked third in 2022 and 2023 in the percentage of deficient bridges with 17% listed as deficient in 2023. A bridge is classified as structurally deficient when on its key elements is poor or worse condition, according to the ARTB.
Minnehaha County recently posted load limits on 20 bridges in an effort to preserve the structures. Groen said many drivers ignore postings even as the size and weight of agriculture equipment increases.
“We see more and more heavy trucks,” Groen said. Those include 20-axle trucks, he said.
Housing is also popping up in townships like Hartford.
Anderson said increased traffic in those areas means more wear and tear on roads, including roads with bridges or culverts.
The June flooding also damaged bridges around the state. Local governments need to make emergency repairs which can push other planned improvements down the priority line.
Groen said Minnehaha County will continue to seek Bridge Improvement Grants through the SD DOT.
Meanwhile, both counties and townships will continue to budget for bridge work.
It may not be enough to push South Dakota out of the top three categories of states with bridges in the worst condition.
