Bridges
| Bridges in the National Bridge Inventory | 5,891 |
|---|---|
| Good condition | 2,058 (34.9%) |
| Fair condition | 2,962 (50.3%) |
| Poor condition | 871 (14.8%) |
| Total deck area | 22,214,228 sq ft |
| Deck area in poor condition | 1,574,453 sq ft (7.1%) |
South Dakota ranks 4 of 51 (states plus DC) for the share of bridges in poor condition, where 1 is the highest share. Nationally, 6.6% of bridges are rated poor.
A poor share well above the national rate points to a long pipeline of rehabilitation and replacement design, and it is the kind of need the federal Bridge Investment Program targets. Fair-rated bridges (2,962 here) are the ones most likely to slip to poor without timely work, which is why many DOTs fund preservation and inspection contracts alongside replacements.
ASCE report card
For South Dakota, refer to the category grades in ASCE's national Report Card for America's Infrastructure. See ASCE's South Dakota page and the national report card.
More on South Dakota for firm owners
- South Dakota DOT prequalification and procurement
- South Dakota PE licensure and PDH rules
- South Dakota civil engineer salaries
- Accredited programs in South Dakota
- Federal funding programs
Sources: Federal Highway Administration, National Bridge Inventory, 2026 Bridge Condition by Highway System (fhwa.dot.gov); ASCE Infrastructure Report Card state reports (infrastructurereportcard.org), produced by ASCE state sections in the year shown.
