News Stories

Plow drivers compete in Snowfighter ‘Roadeo’ - Keloland 10/3/2024

October 07, 2024
Chris Voelker was warming up for the cold months behind the wheel of a plow truck on Thursday. Voelker is a lead highway maintenance worker for the South Dakota Department of Transportation. He competed in the DOT’s Snowfighter ‘Roadeo’ in Sioux Falls, which included a driving course.  “Very challenging if you’ve never done it,” Voelker said. While it wasn’t Voelker’s first ‘Roadeo,’ it was an opportunity to practice after the summer months. “Getting used to the controls and trucks again,” Voelk...

Snowfighter ‘Roadeo’ competition prepares DOT plow drivers for winter - Dakota News Now 10/2/2024

October 03, 2024
A special kind of rodeo has been taking place throughout the state. It’s now October in South Dakota. In a typical year, we know that it’s not out of the realm of reason to expect snow. “Winter is not too far away, unfortunately,” said DOT Director of Operations Craig Smith. For more than 25 years, the orange cones get set up around this time of year and the snow plows are brought out for an event that is one-third competition, one-third education and one-third reunion for snow plow drivers stat...

Complete Concrete Overcomes Complications to Bring New Life to Aging Infrastructure in Hot Springs, South Dakota - Western Builder 9/26/2024

September 30, 2024
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is nearing the conclusion of the Hot Springs Urban Reconstruction project in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Located in the southwestern part of the state, the town has a population of approximately 3,500. Despite having a small population, Hot Springs is a popular tourist destination due to the springs and its proximity to other attractions like the Black Hills. Read the full article here

South Dakota DOT Earns RAISE Discretionary Grant for Reconstruction Project on US Highway 18 - Western Builder 9/20/2024

September 23, 2024
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 fo...

SDDOT seeks public input in survey mailed to residents statewide - Dakota News Now 8/29/2024

August 30, 2024
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - The South Dakota Department of Transportation is looking for input in order to improve public transportation. The Department sent out a survey to residents around the state. You can scan the QR code on the survey or you can go here and fill in the password provided. It should take only a few minutes to complete, and your responses will be used to plan projects going forward. The Department of Transportation is partnering with WBA Research out of Maryland to ...