KOTA TV: Bennett Road Bridge opens in Box Elder as community prepares for growth

https://www.kotatv.com/2026/10/07/bennett-road-bridge-opens-box-elder-community-prepares-growth/

Gov. Larry Rhoden joined local officials to mark the opening of Bennett Road Bridge, a project funded through a South Dakota Department of Transportation Bridge Improvement Grant.

Rhoden said the bridge will help Box Elder keep pace with its rapid growth and support future development.

“Projects like this, we need to stay ahead of the game a little bit to keep the community flowing and providing the infrastructure needed to allow them to continue to grow,” Rhoden said.

The bridge is expected to serve as one of the routes supporting new expansion in Box Elder. Rhoden said traffic on the road is likely to increase as the community grows.

Box Elder’s population has nearly doubled since 2010, when about 7,800 people lived there. The community is also preparing for growth connected to the expansion of Ellsworth Air Force Base and the arrival of B-21 aircraft.

Rhoden pointed to other state investments in the area, including $8 million approved through SB 130 to repair roads affected by the base’s expansion. Last year, the state also approved a zero-interest loan to the Douglas School District to help it address rising enrollment.

“​​Infrastructure is everything for the growth of a community,” Rhoden said. “Things like bridges … get people from one point to the other without congestion and open up new areas.”