Dec. 8, 2025:
Euclid Avenue through Pierre is back open to vehicle traffic, but the odds are against any tall vehicles hitting or getting stuck under Pierre’s infamous train bridge viaduct anytime soon.
State Department of Transportation Pierre Area Engineer Dean VanDeWiele says during the 2025 lawmaking session, legislators passed and Governor Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 39, which renames U.S. Highway 14 going through Pierre as S.D. Highway 1889.
Despite signs outside of the Pierre and Fort Pierre city limits alerting motorists to what had been an 11’ 3”, low clearance height limit and large yellow signs with flashing yellow lights on both sides of the train viaduct bridge itself, drivers that hit the train bridge often said they were following the directions of GPS navigation systems. VanDeWiele says the hope is that changing the name of the stretch of highway that goes through Pierre will help prevent some of those accidents.
VanDeWiele says signage has been posted indicating the route truck traffic should take through Pierre.
VanDeWiele says there’s also been a change involving S.D. Highway 1804.
Over the years, tall vehicles hitting or getting stuck under the low-clearance train viaduct have provided a source of entertainment for local community members. However, the still-undefeated-structure has a reputation far beyond Pierre and Fort Pierre. The “Trucks vs. Bridge, Pierre SD” Facebook page has more than 25-thousand followers.
Feb. 12, 2025:
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed (Feb. 10, 2025) a bill that attempts to cut down on the number of vehicles that get damaged or stuck while going under Pierre’s infamous low-clearance train viaduct bridge.
Senate Bill 39, brought by the state Department of Transportation, will move the U.S. Highway 14 route from underneath the 11-foot-3-inch-clearance bridge on Pierre Street/Euclid Avenue to the U.S. Highway 14/83 Truck Route bypass, portions of which are commonly known as Sioux Avenue.
Once the change takes effect July 1, 2025, those using GPS/navigation systems will no longer be directed to drive their vehicles through Pierre and underneath the low-clearance bridge that has developed a statewide reputation for damaging semis, RVs, campers and other tall vehicles.
From January 2023 to late November 2024, the bridge had 22 confirmed hits. Local law enforcement suspects that many more have hit the bridge and left without calling law enforcement or may not have realized there was damage until they arrived at their destination.
The bridge has a fan club of more than 25k people, all of whom follow the “Trucks vs. Bridge, Pierre SD” Facebook page.
Even Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen lamented the change.
“It is too bad, that bridge gives us all something to believe in,” Venhuizen joked.
The measure received unanimous support from the Legislature, with zero opposition testimony through the entire legislative process.
The South Dakota Broadcasters Association contributed to this story.
Courtesy photo.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Screenshot image of Trish Jurgensen’s video posted to Truck vs. Bridge, Pierre SD Facebook page.
A semi tractor and trailer hit the train bridge on South Pierre Street in Pierre Oct. 13, 2022.
Photo credit Nancy Riggle via the Truck vs Bridge Pierre, SD, Facebook page.
Semi tractor and trailer after hitting the train bridge on South Pierre Street in Pierre Oct. 13, 2022.
Courtesy photo.
A southbound pickup pulling a camper drove under the train bridge in Pierre Nov. 30, 2021, losing the air ventilation system unit on the top.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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