Daschle Announces $96,000 for Tea Interchange

Daschle Announces $96,000 for Tea Interchange

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Tom Daschle today announced a grant of $96,000 for the Tea interchange on I-29. The funds are awarded by the Federal Highway Administration and will be used to study the merits of different methods of constructing concrete bridge decks.

"It's important that our major thoroughfares be built for optimal safety and durability," Senator Daschle said. "I'm pleased that this funding will allow highway authorities in Tea to determine the best method for constructing bridge decks on I-29. Thanks this and other projects, citizens can count on continued dedication to innovation and quality on South Dakota highways."

The grant will fund construction of two bridge decks: one made using DOT standard construction methods, and the other following a new method designed to optimize performance and minimize cracking. Officials will compare the durability of steel and concrete girders constructed, respectively, with conventional fly-ash concrete and coarse-ground Portland cement.