RAPID CITY, SD — In a press conference hosted this morning, Rapid City officials relayed that following a failed 6.4 million dollar grant application to the South Dakota Department Of Transportation for funding on the Chapel Lane Bridge repair project, the project is to be postponed, pending the location of an alternative funding source.

Concerns surrounding the bridge began last april when inspections revealed a hole in the 50-year-old piece of infrastructure, threatening the structural integrity of the bridge. Since that time, significant weight restrictions have been placed on vehicles going to and from the residential areas which are singularly dependent on the bridge – acting as the sole means of entrance or egress in the area.

During the conference, Director Of Public Works Mike Theis said that the city was in discussions while trying to locate funding for the project, discussing potential re-application and local tax routes to reach the $8 million dollar projected budget. 

In the meantime, weight restrictions will be maintained, preventing major construction and normal solid waste services within the Chapel Valley development, in order to limit further damages to the bridge. On potential for a second route, Theis said “we continue to look for other options for access into or egress out of the area. We’ve got some other options that we’re looking at, but obviously with the surrounding terrain, there are cliffs and a lot of private property surrounding the Chapel Valley area. Additional access is challenging to say the least”.

Officials have additionally announced a Town Hall intended to give a detailed update on the situation and allow for public questions to be raised on the Chapel Ln. Bridge project. This meeting will be held at city hall on Tuesday April 14th, at 5:30pm.