Sioux Falls' Yankton Trail Bridge: Construction Continues

by Melissa Payne
July 27, 2010


The Yankton Trail bridge has been out of service since the beginning of summer and it has been a big void for bikers.

After an inspection revealed twisted steel beams and decay, it was determined the bridge needed to be replaced.

Crews are replacing the twisted metal pieces, and putting in a new deck across the entire width of the bridge.
   
"The contractors made every effort to stay on schedule and finish it up as soon as possible," said Tory Miedema, Sioux Falls Park Development.

Construction on the project is nearly a month behind schedule.  One reason is that steel production was down, and crews couldn't get the materials they needed.  Now that they have all the steel they need, the bridge is expected to open in a couple of weeks, and people who use the bridge say, it can't come soon enough.

Trail closed signs mark the construction zone, and detour signs dot the trail.  But that doesn't keep riders from trying anyway.    

Don Nelson pedals past the signs.  "I always thought it was a nice trail around town, and I thought I'd ride it," said Nelson who is riding the trail for the first time.  "Now I've got to figure out how to get from point a to point b without getting into heavy traffic."

That traffic is a concern for other riders too.  For Liz Evans, the closed trail isn't just inconvenient, it's not safe.

"It is dangerous when we can get through and it re-routes us out through the street and we have to go up against the cars," said Evans, who rides on the bike trail nearly every day.
    
But Evans has no choice.  Instead of following the trail, she hits the road.

Some walkers takes an alternate route, instead of battling the broken bridge.

"I've gone that way and it is a mess, so I've just learned to go the other direction," said Nancy Petersen, a walker who uses the trail during her lunch hour.

But soon, it will be a two way trail once again.

The project is being paid for by stimulus funding.

The city got transportation enhancement grant, worth nearly $700,000, which is paying for all the construction.

m_payne@kdlt.com