WHITE RIVER, (KCCR) — The South Dakota Department of Transportation has started a two-county, two-highway project in Mellette and Jackson Counties. The work is being done on a roughly 45-mile stretch of Highway 44 from White River to the Highway 63 junction and from the Highway 63 junction with Highway 44 north to the south end of Belvidere. The Highway 44 part of the project includes a full depth reclamation, asphalt concrete resurfacing, pipe repair and bridge rehab. Flaggers and pilot cars will be in use and motorists should prepare for delays. Bridge work will begin April 9th and will include lane closures with stop signs and a 12-foot width restrictions. Those will be in place through early August. Cold milling and reclamation work will begin in May. Once reclamation work begins, the driving surface will be loose gravel. The Highway 63 project will consist of gravel surfacing and bridge work. Highway 63 is one of a handful of gravel surfaced state highways in South Dakota. The intersection of two highways will be modified with additional lighting. The project should last until mid-November.
