The Longest Bridge In South Dakota Can Be Found In The Town Of Platte

When it comes to famous bridges, many think of the Golden Gate, London, and Brooklyn Bridges, but did you know that South Dakota has a few iconic structures of its own? In addition to the legendary Devil’s Gulch (where Jesse James is alleged to have jumped off the 18-foot-tall bridge during an escape from law enforcement), SoDak is also home to the Platte-Winner Bridge, AKA the state’s longest bridge:

Connecting the towns of - you guessed it! - Platte and Winner (both of which are less than 30 miles away) the Platte-Winner Bridge is an incredible 5,655-foot-long structure that towers over the Lake Francis Case.

Also known as the Francis Case Memorial Bridge, the overpass was the namesake of U.S. Senator Francis Case, who strived to expand America's road and waterway infrastructures, beginning in his home state.

Built in 1966 (before the interstate system), the Platte-Winner Bridge runs along State Highway 44 and carries an average of 951 vehicles per day!

Thanks to heavy traffic and even more predicted in the coming years, the South Dakota Department of Transportation has started plans to build a new bridge in its place, which - according to The Daily Republic - should be replaced by the mid-2020s.

Fun fact: There are approximately 1,800 bridges in the Mount Rushmore State, with Platte-Winner being the longest and the Lewis and Clark Memorial Bridge coming in second (at only 2,031-feet-long).

Since the Platte-Winner Bridge may not be open to traffic for much longer, you will want to make plans to take a scenic drive along this historic structure while you still can!

Do you have a favorite place in South Dakota that you would like to see featured on Only in Your State? Tell us about it here! Are you looking for even more to do during your visit? Then you will want to read You’ll Never Run Out Of Things To Do In This Tiny South Dakota Town!

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Platte, SD 57369, USA

The Longest, Most Impressive Bridge In South Dakota Can Be Found In The Town Of Platte

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