KELO: SDDOT is adding 16 more dynamic message signs

Motorists will soon be seeing more of what are known in the highway industry as dynamic message signs along some of South Dakota’s busiest routes.

The state Transportation Commission on Thursday approved moving forward with the installation of 16 more of the permanent electronic boards to the 31 already in place throughout South Dakota.

The commission accepted a $5,586,000 bid from Dell Rapids-based BX Civil & Construction, Inc., to do the work.

No other contractor put in a bid.

BX Civil’s bid was 3.8% below the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s estimate of $5,804,988.02 estimate, a difference of $218,988.02.

The project calls for the boards to be located along seven different routes:

Two along I-90 in Aurora County, at mile markers 307 and 312.

Three along I-90 in Minnehaha County, at mile markers 399, 403 and 405.

Two along I-229 in Minnehaha County, at mile markers 2 and 9.

One along I-29 in Minnehaha County, at mile marker 76.

One along I-29 in Lincoln County, at mile marker 74.

One along I-29 in Grant County, at mile marker 206.

One along I-29 in Roberts County, at mile marker 209.

One along SD 50 in Clay County, at mile marker 412.

One along SD 50 in Yankton County, at mile marker 388.

One along SD 34 in Lake County, at mile marker 389.

One along SD 37 in Beadle County, at mile marker 125.

One along US 12 in Brown County at mile marker 295.

An example of a board can be seen here. The department contracted last year with Brookings-based Daktronics to produce an upgraded version of the boards

The boards are designed to be remotely programmed. They display public service information such as travel advisories, Amber Alerts, safety reminders and emergency messages.

The commission on Thursday also awarded bids on 10 other projects.

View the article here.