The South Dakota Department of Transportation had better luck bidding out a $20 million rail rehabilitation project Wednesday, compared to an April bid.
Bruce Lindholm, program manager for the state Office of Railroads in Pierre, said both steel and wood crossties came in at good prices. The heavy rail bid came in a little higher than expected, but the smaller rail came in lower, he said.
While the DOT received a good bid for all steel needed for the 61.3-mile line from Mitchell to Chamberlain, it only received a bid for 15,000 ties. The first bid awarded earlier this year garnered the DOT 12,500 ties, so the department still needs 25,000 additional ties to complete the project, Lindholm said.
The full project is now expected to begin in July. The state began cleaning track just west of Mitchell earlier this spring. Bids are expected to be awarded next week, he said.
Bids for installation of the line will open May 25.
