South Dakota Department of Transportation’s Interstate 29 Exit 130 (20th Street South) Interchange

With residential and employment centers situated on opposite sides of the City of Brookings, this $15.5 million interchange boosted connectivity to the city’s south side; unlocking its development potential. Without the new 20th Street crossing of I-29 and new roadway interchange, traffic volume on city streets was projected to cause unacceptable delays to commuters. Spearheaded by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, the newly constructed section of 20th Street features a 10-foot-wide shared-use path on its south side, while the new bridge crossing over I-29 includes a barrier-protected shared-use path. This connection is vital for pedestrian access to future recreational areas and other developments on the east side of I-29. The nearest grade-separated pedestrian crossing of I-29 is along the BNSF railroad tracks, approximately one and a half miles north of 20th Street. With financial resources provided by a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development or BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, this project improved safe and efficient movement from the city’s southern section to the eastside industrial park, while also easing access from the rapidly growing city of Aurora to Brookings’ public schools.