The condition of South Dakota’s roads and bridges and farm to market infrastructure system was talked about at last week’s Governor’s Ag Summit in Deadwood. State Senator Mike Vehle of Mitchell who heads up the Interim Legislative Committee on highway needs and financing says his group surveyed counties on their road conditions.
Vehle says that’s because paved roads cost more than gravel roads. He also says while the overall condition of the state’s roads are good right now, the future projections are not that good.
South Dakota currently has a total of 8,850 miles of roads and if a fourth need rebuilding that’ll be a costly proposition. Vehle says now is the time to work out future financing options. Vehle’s interim committee meets in Yankton today at the R TECH center from 11 to 1. and they’re looking for public input with any possible solutions.