HOT SPRINGS – Work on the $1.4 million Minnekahta Avenue Bridge replacement project in downtown Hot Springs is progressing, but not as quickly as local residents and city officials would probably like to see.
Originally built in 1948 following the June 20, 1947 flood, the new bridge is being funded through the 2023 SD BIG (Bridge Improvement Grant) via a contract with Heavy Constructors of Rapid City. Oversight of the project is being done by Brosz Engineering of Sturgis. The City of Hot Springs will share 20% of the cost, with the State of South Dakota picking up the other 80%.
Work began late last year with closure of the bridge on Dec. 15, 2025. According to a spokesman with Brosz Engineering, crews have spent a considerable amount of time dealing with rocky materials behind the abutments as well as utility lines running under the bridge, which pushed back some of the progress milestones that Heavy Constructors had hoped to achieve this spring.
The Brosz Engineering spokesman said urban environments for bridge replacement always create some anticipated issues, as well as some unanticipated delays, due to the nature of the project. He pointed out that what was going to be a “drilling project” to remove the rock material behind the abutment turned into a “digging operation” instead due to the type of the stone.
As reported in the Dec. 25, 2025, edition of the Fall River County Herald-Star, based on information from a Heavy Constructors, some of the anticipated key milestones included pile driving in February, girder setting in March, deck concrete in June and the roadway opening in September. However, each of those anticipated key milestones have all likely been pushed back several months, with pile driving hopefully starting in June and girder setting not expected to happen until July.
Despite not hitting those benchmarks thus far, Brosz Engineering expects the new bridge to be completed by the contracted deadline of Nov. 27, 2026.
The aforementioned December article also reported that the contracted deadline was Oct. 27, 2026, but that was an expression of optimism on the part of Heavy Constructors, according to City Administrator Aerial Allison, who said there has not been an extension to the original deadline.
“Overall, we understand the inconvenience the Bridge replacement has caused, but cannot deny its need for replacement,” Allison stated. “Over the last 15plus years, City crews have made numerous minor repairs to keep the bridge operational, but its overall condition had deteriorated to the point that replacement became necessary. Similar to the road project, the work has uncovered other infrastructure that is prudent to replace while the bridge is apart, including the ductile iron water main under the bridge. While the project has experienced some delays, we are optimistic that Heavy and their subcontractors will satisfy the construction requirements within the contract timeline.”
Some of the progress that has been made recently includes the removal of the old decking and steel girders last month. This past week, crews were seen removing portions of the concrete flood wall in anticipation of setting the prestressed girders that will provide the support for the new single span bridge, which will ultimately look similar to the Jennings Avenue replacement bridge built in 2021.
The spokesman for Brosz Engineering said the new Minnekahta Bridge will be slightly wider than the original, but the two driving lanes will be the same at a combined 30-feet of travel space. The additional width is in the sidewalks, as both the north and south sidewalks will now be 6-feet wide compared to the previous 5-foot widths. The two sidewalks will also be enclosed with chain link railings on both sides.
Allison also confirmed that the City of Hot Springs is in discussions with Heavy Constructors to repurpose the old railings from the historic, original 1948 Minnekahta Bridge, which was a desire of some members of the Hot Springs City Council during the planning process of the new bridge. Despite no longer being ADA compliant for today’s standards, the hope is the old railings can be modified and refinished to work within the new designs. These modifications however would not be part of the 80/20 cost share of the grant and would put 100% of that additional expense on the city’s portion.
“The City would like to utilize the historic railing and have it fabricated so it meets the current safety requirements and keeps its historic charm,” stated Allison, while adding that they are still awaiting a quote from Heavy Constructors. “This would be an added nonparticipating cost, meaning the state would not pay any share of the additional cost to do the railing. Any added cost related to the railing would ultimately be subject to Council review and approval, so the decision will largely depend on what that quote looks like and if Council feels they can find the money.”
The City did recently approve a change order at the April 20 council meeting, which amounts to a net increase in the total project of just over $22,400.
In explaining the need for the change order, Public Work Engineer Tracy Bastian stated in a letter to the council, “In the course of excavation, it was found that the water main near the bridge was in deteriorated condition and original installation was not correct and posed a risk for breakage. Therefore in the interest of longevity we are replacing the water main under the bridge as well as two old valves.”
During discussion of the change order, it was pointed out that Heavy Constructors had also damaged the sewer line that was running under the bridge, but that they would cover the cost of those damages, as well as some additional damages to light fixtures and the sidewalk around Kidney Springs.
In addition to the water and sewer lines running underneath the decking of the bridge, there is also a highly critical internet line that crews have had to be mindful of not damaging as well, all of which has contributed to some of the slow progress of the replacement project.
Springs Lodge and Cafe, located next to the Minnekahta Bridge at 602 Sulphur Springs Street, is the business which has been most impacted by the construction project.
“It’s been hard and really tough on us,” stated co-owner Vicky Wetzel.
But despite hardship, the Wetzel family has tried to remain optimistic about the situation and just focused on how to make it more convenient for their customers, which includes providing meals for an anticipated 75 tour buses this summer. Vicky said they had their first tour bus arrive this past week, and while it was a tight fit and a little more difficult than their usual process, the bus was able to temporarily park in the city’s Kidney Springs parking lot for passengers to disembark and walk across the street for their meal.
Buses, as well as any of their customers, are advised to access Minnekahta Avenue via 23rd Street near the Family Dollar along University Avenue. While it is certainly a longer way to get to Springs Lodge and Cafe, Vicky said she always just tells everyone, “Once you’re here, you’re here!” and “Once you know, you know!”
She said they knew the project was coming for quite awhile and are looking forward to it being done, but it is a temporary situation and are making the best of it by tryingtogetthewordoutabout the option of online ordering through their website www. springslodgeandcafe.com. She said customers can even place their food or drink order the night before and they’ll have it ready for them to pick up or dine-in when they arrive.
The family’s motel business has not been impacted quite as much as the cafe and is off to a pretty good start this spring, she said, with a good number of bookings for the summer season as well.
Vicky said the construction company has been very accommodating with their requests, which has helped the situation immensely.