700 E. Broadway

Pierre, SD 57701

Phone: (605)  773-3265

FAX:  (605) 773-3921

Website: www.sddot.com

For Immediate Release:  Friday October 23, 2009

Contact: Kristi Sandal, 605-773-7179

Transportation Commission Approves Stimulus Enhancement Funds for Meridian Bridge

Pierre, S.D.  –  The South Dakota Transportation Commission decided Thursday that $1.8 million in federal stimulus funds should be provided for the Meridian Bridge project at Yankton.

Of the $183 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARARA) funds that South Dakota will receive, it is mandatory that three percent of the money be used on transportation enhancement projects.

The  85-year-old Meridian Bridge will be converted to a bicycle and pedestrian recreational facility by  the city of Yankton, South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and the Nebraska Department of Roads. The bridge qualifies for use of  transportation enhancement funds by improving the cultural, historic, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of surface transportation infrastructure.

Funding  to rehabilitate the structure fell short due to additional costs to repair bridge components. The current estimate  to rehabilitate the bridge and convert  it to a recreational structure is $5.5 million.

Nebraska has committed to 70 percent of the rehabilitation costs under an agreement for construction of the replacement Discovery Bridge at Yankton.    

“The  Transportation Commission's action allows the Department to use ARRA enhancement funds on this project to fulfill our commitment as well as providing continued use of this historic structure for years to come,” said SDDOT Secretary Darin Bergquist.

More information on the ARRA funding can be found on the SDDOT Web site at www.sddot.com.  Look under the DOT Spotlight heading of “State Highway Economic Stimulus Projects”.

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