COUNTY AWARDED THREE BRIDGE STUDY GRANTS

    Marshall County will soon take a closer look at several aging bridges after being awarded three preliminary engineering Bridge Improvement Grants (BIG) from the South Dakota Transportation Commission.
    The grants, part of a $1.5 million package distributed statewide, will fund studies on three county bridges in need of replacement or significant repair.
    Marshall County Highway Superintendent Dustin Hofland said the engineering work is a critical first step before decisions can be made.
    “Preliminary engineering covers the cost of surveying, planning, and hydraulic studies,” Hofland explained. “These bridges all will need to be replaced in some fashion. The studies will tell us what needs to be done—whether that means a new bridge, a box culvert, multiple culverts, or in some cases, if the structure should be closed.”
    The three Marshall County projects are located:
    -Three miles south and 1.2 miles west of Britton on 113th Street over Crow Creek. Total project cost: $84,137. Grant request: $67,400.
    -5.9 miles north and three miles east of Langford on 422nd Avenue over Spain Ditch. Total project cost: $63,829. Grant request: $51,100.
    -Two miles south and 0.6 miles east of Britton on 112th Street over Crow Creek. Total project cost: $84,137. Grant request: $67,400.
    Hofland said the county works with IMEG, an engineering company, to complete the studies. That work will likely take place next year, with findings later presented to the Marshall County Commission.
    “Once we know the scope of what’s needed, the commission can decide on the next moves,” Hofland said. “BIG grants are also available for later stages of the projects, not just the studies.”
    Marshall County has been a frequent recipient of BIG funding over the years, something Hofland said has been crucial for maintaining rural infrastructure.
    Statewide, 44 applications totaling $3.2 million were submitted for the preliminary engineering grants. The Department of Transportation approved 24 projects from 20 counties and one city. Other counties receiving awards include Beadle, Bon Homme, Deuel, Grant, Haakon, Hand, Lincoln, Moody, Roberts, and Tripp.
    The BIG program was created in 2015 through Senate Bill 1, requiring counties to impose a wheel tax and maintain a five-year Highway and Bridge Improvement Plan in order to be eligible. Each year, $7 million from license plate and vehicle fees, along with $8 million in state highway funds, is directed toward BIG. Since its creation, the program has awarded more than $182 million in grants to local governments.