South Dakota DOT flooded with applications for Bridge Improvement Grants

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) recently received 99 new applications for  Bridge Improvement Grant (BIG) funds from 30 counties and seven cities.

The cities submitted nine separate applications, while the counties submitted 90 different applications, asking for a total of $16.8 million.

However, the total funding available is $9 million, with $7 million coming from license-plate fees and $2 million directly from the SDDOT. Local governments are required to pay at least 20 percent in matching funds and have three years to spend the money. The grants are available in three need categories: rehabilitation, replacement and preliminary engineering.

To qualify for BIG funds, counties must have a wheel tax, and they must have submitted a County Highway and Bridge Improvement Five-Year plan to the department for approval, with the bridge factored into their plan.

Over 1,000 bridges in the local government road system need to be replaced or repaired, as local ranchers and farmers depend on this infrastructure to transport their products to markets.