WINNER, (KCCR) — Officials with the South Dakota Department of Transportation expect to open a south-central South Dakota highway today. U-S Highway 18 through Winner should be open to traffic by the end of the day. Opening Highway 18 is the final part of a two-phase project that included work on state Highway 44. Traffic configurations will be returned to a normal traffic flow and construction speed limits will be removed. The original speed limits of 30 and 45 miles an hour will be restored. Some short-term lane closures may be possible as localized finish work is completed. Next spring, permanent striping and hand rails on new A-D-A ramps will be added. Work through the end of the year includes right-of—way makers, adding top soil and seeding. Temporary striping will be added before Thanksgiving. The project has an estimated cost of 20-point-nine million dollars.
