The South Dakota Department of Transportation’s Traveler Information Enhancements project upgraded South Dakota’s SD511 system (the agency’s official traveler information) to better inform drivers and third-party navigation apps of road closures, no-travel advisories, and severe weather conditions across state, county, and tribal roads. During the severe 2022–2023 winter, many drivers in South Dakota relying solely on personal navigation apps became stranded on secondary roads after bypassing interstate closures, risking their safety and that of emergency responders. To address this, the $90,000 project added county and tribal road data to SD511, enabled text-in road closure notifications, installed rest area kiosks, integrated third-party data feeds, and deployed rural highway cameras. These enhancements empowered nearly 200 local and tribal officials to post real-time advisories directly to drivers and apps/ By improving access to accurate, up-to-date travel information, the project enhanced route planning, reduced the risk of stranded vehicles, supported safer freight movement, and helped emergency responders respond more efficiently, contributing to safer, more coordinated travel across South Dakota.
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