PIERRE, SD — 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.”
This project will reconstruct approximately 11 miles of U.S. Highway 18 from east of S.D. Highway 73 to west of Antelope Road/242nd Avenue starting in the spring of 2026. The reconstruction project includes the addition of 6-foot shoulders and edge line rumble strips. The project will receive a new asphalt surface the following year.
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 6-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.
