By Associated Press - Sunday, June 3, 2018

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - Road signs throughout southeast South Dakota county are getting a facelift thanks to a $372,000 federal grant.

Clark Engineering of Sioux Falls is replacing or adding nearly 13,000 signs in Yankton County, the Yankton Press and Dakotan reported .

“We replaced everything (the county) had that was standard and added in a lot of signs,” said Colin Kelley of the engineering firm. “Gravel roads are the place you see it the most. Where there may be a turn or curve, they’ve added in large chevrons to direct people around the curve. .. Gravel roads have a lot more signs to keep them safe.”

The project involves the South Dakota Department of Transportation, Yankton County Planning and Zoning, and the Yankton County Highway Department.

Kelley says the changes will help make sure all of the county’s road signage is up to federal standards and keeps the roadways safe.

“Safety was the biggest issue we looked at for sure,” Kelley said. “With the new standards, they wanted everything to be as safe as we could possibly get it without impeding traffic.”

The first phase of the project began in March and concluded Friday. That phase involves work on signs west of Highway 81. Workers will focus on the signs in the eastern half of the county starting in July with a Nov. 1 deadline.

Residents who notice a sign placed in error should contact the county Planning and Zoning office, said director Pat Garrity.

“We will research it and see if it needs to be changed or corrected,” Garrity said. “We can get it within the grant funding because they’re still here.”

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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net/

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