South Dakota Department of Transportation crews will begin repairs today (Feb. 24, 2021) on the “singing bridge” west of Mobridge after issuing an emergency order closing it down over the weekend because of “observed distresses reported on the bridge.”
Information from SDDOT says the plan is to provide temporary timber blocking to provide support for the bridge girders using a snooper truck to get under the deck to perform repairs. Weather permitting, they hope to have the temporary repairs done in a day or two. However, winds speeds must be 25mph or less or it becomes unsafe to operate the truck. While the temporary repairs are being made, traffic will need to use alternate routes.
Upon completion of the temporary repairs, SDDOT will likely place a 30mph restriction on it to minimize vibration. A load restriction will also likely be put in place limiting traffic on the bridge over the Grand River to vehicular traffic only– meaning no trucks– until the permanent fix can take place.
Last week’s brutally cold weather may be to blame for the damage. The bridge was closed Saturday and SDDOT staff inspected it Sunday to identify the extent of the distress.
For more information on this and other road conditions, visit https://sd511.org or call 5-1-1.
Photo credit Tim Birk’s Facebook page.
Photo credit Tim Birk’s Facebook page.
Image credit South Dakota Department of Transportation.
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