SDDOT Earns RAISE Discretionary Grant for Reconstruction Project on U.S. Highway 18 in Bennett County

Contact:  Julie Stevenson, Strategic Communications Coordinator, 605-773-2898
 
PIERRE, S.D. –  The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has received a $25 million RAISE discretionary grant dedicated to a reconstruction project on U.S. Highway 18 in Bennett County. “Being awarded a RAISE discretionary grant helps to build and repair infrastructure to benefit South Dakotans for future generations to come,” said Joel Jundt, Secretary of Transportation. “Our Bennett County reconstruction project was identified as a strong proposal in this highly competitive funding cycle with focus on safety, an increased quality of life, and community connectivity.”
 
Project Description:
This project will reconstruct approximately 11 miles of U.S. Highway 18 from east of S.D. Highway 73 to west of Antelope Road/242^nd Avenue starting in the spring of 2026. The reconstruction project includes the addition of six-foot shoulders and edge line rumble strips. The project will receive a new asphalt surface the following year.

Project Benefits: The project will improve safety overall for both vehicle traffic and non-motorized users. Highway 18 currently lacks multi-use shoulders, which poses a safety risk as motor vehicles share the travel lanes with bicyclists and pedestrians. The construction of six-foot shoulders will provide space to separate bicyclists and pedestrians from vehicle travel lanes.

The project will also include edge line rumble strips and painted edge lines to provide a visual cue and alert drivers to the possibility of non-motorized users along the route. Reconstruction improvements will also address geometric deficiencies and snow drift.
 
About RAISE Grants:
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grants help project sponsors at the state and local levels, including municipalities, Tribal governments, counties, and others complete critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects. The full list of June 2024 awarded projects can be viewed HERE. For more information on the RAISE program, click HERE. 

About SDDOT: The mission of the South Dakota Department of Transportation is to efficiently provide a safe and effective public transportation system.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions, and traffic incidents, please visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.

Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov.
  
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