SDDOT AWARDED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

PIERRE, SD – The National Association of Environmental Professionals has selected the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s Strawberry Hill reconstruction project to receive a President’s and National Environmental Excellence Award. Representatives from SDDOT will travel to Portland, Oregon for a formal awards presentation on Tuesday, April 27.

The $21 million Strawberry Hill project involved reconstructing six miles of US 385 south of Pluma. The project shifted streams at four locations to allow for the most compatible relationship of the streams, environmental integrity and roadway. Engineers worked with an environmental consultant to develop an extensive vegetation plan. The department planted shrubs and trees native to South Dakota and incorporated rock, salvaged sod, willow cuttings, rock ledge pools and tree deadfalls into the stream relocation to give it a natural appearance. 

During the project, construction crews excavated 1.5 million cubic yards of rock.  Half a million cubic yards were sent over to the Gilt Edge Mine for the Ruby Gulch Superfund Site reclamation cap. The combined effort between the SDDOT, Environmental Protection Agency and the Bureau if Reclamation resulted in a $2 million dollar savings on the total project cost.

The Grizzly Gulch fire created a challenge during construction. The 11,500 acre fire delayed construction for one week. SDDOT along with other federal agencies responded quickly to reduce erosion and sediment control problems.

SDDOT worked with several governmental organizations on the project, including the Federal Highway Administration, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Department. The prime contractor on the project was E.H. Oftedal & Sons, Inc. from Miles City, Montana. Inter∙Fluve, Inc. of Bozeman, MT provided environmental consulting.

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