Rapid City Delays Chapel Lane Bridge Replacement After Grant Funding Denied

Rapid City officials say the long-planned Chapel Lane Bridge replacement is being delayed after the city was denied a key state grant. Public Works Director Mike Theis says the city hoped to receive funding from the 2026 South Dakota Bridge Improvement Grant Program, which would have covered 80 percent of the project’s $8 million cost. Out of 57 applications statewide, only 10 were selected. Theis says the city will now postpone bidding and continue searching for other funding sources. The bridge, built in 1974, is the only access point for the Chapel Valley neighborhood. It has been under weight restrictions since 2025, and those limits will remain in place. A town hall meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to update residents. The city is also exploring the possibility of adding a second access route, though details are still preliminary.