The City of Garretson was awarded $600,000 in the form of a grant to re-build 4th Street by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT), it was announced on December 22.
The "4th Street Project" has been in development for several years now and follows a re-build of infrastructure and streets on 3rd Street, Main Avenue, and the streets along the truck route that included Railroad Avenue, Essex Street, and Depot Avenue.
A water study conducted in late 2022 showed that the water main under the street was in dire need of replacement. In that study, the cast-iron pipes severely underperformed expected water flow rates at the three hydrants located along that route.
The full construction project will include a replacement of the water main, sewer line, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and street, and an early 2023 estimate placed the project at $3 million for 4th Street alone. The expected five-and-a-half-month project will be split into two parts, with the first constructed in 2024 that will include all of the infrastructure from Main Avenue to Sherman Avenue. The second part is expected to be completed in 2025 and will span Sherman Avenue to Oak Drive.
A third part, which would include the side streets and 5th Street from Center to Manor Circle, is planned for 2026 but has not yet received an estimate of cost.
The $600,000 grant was awarded by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and was part of a $4.4 million economic development grant fund geared towards infrastructure improvements to counties and smaller communities across South Dakota. Communities must have a population of less than 5,000 residents to qualify, and do not include the costs for utility work. Only those streets that are slated for construction or reconstruction and considered major streets in town are eligible. A major street in the SDDOT definition included those that service business areas/Main Street, elevators, schools, and hospitals.
Fourth Street is not only a major thoroughfare to Main Avenue and the business district, but also serves Palisade Healthcare, Avera Clinic, and the Garretson Ambulance Services.
“The economic development grant program is a key way for the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) to assist local governments with infrastructure improvements,” said Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt. “Without the grant funds, many rural communities would not have the financial ability to improve access and foster quality of life opportunities for residents today and into the future.”
The grants provided funding for 80 percent of the project up to $600,000. Other grants were awarded to Colton for their 4th and 6th Street project, Mount Vernon, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Tyndall, Tripp County, and Wagner. Union County received an agri-business grant to service a road leading to Farmers Coop Grain Elevator.
