Commission approves multiple contract awards and STIP revisions, including movable traffic monitoring cameras

At its April 23 meeting the DOT commission approved several contract awards from recent lettings and a STIP revision to purchase movable traffic monitoring cameras.

Sam Wisgram and project staff recommended awarding project #4 from the April 1 bid opening (a pipe‑repair project on Highways 14 and 63 near Midland) to AG Corporation as the low, responsive bidder at $3,750,000, about 34% below the engineer’s estimate. Staff reviewed the bids and recommended award; the commission approved the award by roll call.

From the April 15 letting staff presented results for 14 contracts (61 bids). Staff recommended awards for projects 1–9 and 12–14 and separately recommended approval for project #10 (asphalt surface treatments around Sioux Falls; low bid presented at $1,059,000) and project #11 (asphalt surface treatments in the Aberdeen area; low bid $3,815,000). Commissioners approved the recommended awards.

Mark Leman presented STIP revision 26‑022 to purchase eight movable traffic monitoring cameras to replace or supplement tube counts and manual board counts for intersection and turning‑movement studies. Staff said the cameras (estimated cost ~$62,000) are typically installed two per study location, are movable and are intended to reduce worker exposure when collecting counts; DOT said the devices are not monitored live to identify individuals and that the project is roughly 90% federally funded under safety funding. The commission voted to approve the STIP revision.

In other STIP discussion staff explained a scope increase in a rumble‑stripe project (from ~150 miles to ~250 miles) that raised the average cost per mile to roughly $5,000 and described the department’s research review board and use of SPR funds for traffic data research.