Moving ahead with 'Unity Bridge' to cost Sioux Falls taxpayers double

TenHaken administration opts to accept lone bid, delay Minnesota Avenue job

City Hall is willing to spend nearly twice as much to replace an aging bridge in downtown Sioux Falls than originally anticipated.

And the same inflation and backlog of construction projects blamed for the dramatic increase in the cost of rebuilding the Sixth Street bridge is also why city officials say they can still get the job done this year.

The Sioux Falls Public Works Department Tuesday will request the City Council accept the lone, $21.8 million bid it received from Journey Group.

The city budgeted for $11.1 million.

Public Works Director Mark Cotter told The Dakota Scout Friday the decision to move ahead with the bridge reconstruction without rebidding the project is based on timing and a lack of market certainty.

“What we’ve seen from inflation, we don’t expect the costs to go down,” he said. “Ultimately, we know that timing is important, and it’s a priority project.”

NEWS: Inflation pinching government budgets, jeopardizing major projects