let us do the work

Effortlessly plan your next adventure with AI
ExperiencesSights & Landmarks

The Unique Bridge In Keystone Is The Only One Of Its Kind In South Dakota

Keystone Wye in South Dakota is a unique architectural marvel featuring glued laminated timber bridges and impressive wooden arches.

Updated Jul 25, 2024

Written by 

Annie Sandmeier

When people think of South Dakota, what typically comes to mind are our Black Hills, plus world-famous landmarks that include the likes of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. While these are obviously all a must-see, you may be surprised to learn that the Mount Rushmore State is also home to some incredible bridges, including the uniquely shaped Keystone Wye Bridge. Read on to learn more about this iconic landmark in South Dakota and why it’s one of our architectural treasures.

Nestled away in the Black Hills, the Keystone Wye is a South Dakota architectural marvel that consists of two structurally glued laminated timber bridges.

A wooden bridge arches over a green landscape under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees and grass.
Thaddeus Roan, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Do you want to learn even more about this fascinating, must-see bridge?

A highway with a large, curved metal bridge overhead, surrounded by grassy hills and trees under a cloudy sky.
Google Street View

Check out this short, sweet, and informative video from our friend's at South Dakota Public Broadcasting:

Built in the late 1960s, the Keystone Wye was constructed as a way to convert US 16 to a four-lane highway and features an impressive three-level Directional T interchange for the two different highways.

Aerial view of a highway interchange with a curved bridge over intersecting roads surrounded by green hills.
Youtube/South Dakota Public Radio

What makes the Keystone Wye so unique? In addition to connecting the two different highways, the "high bridge" is supported by three 66-foot-tall wooden arches, plus six glued laminated timber pieces.

A unique wooden bridge arches over a road, with a person walking nearby and a car parked on the side.
Robert Cortright/Wikimedia Commons

As you may have noticed, the Keystone Wye also boasts grand arches, which were created with 91-foot-long planks that were glued together, a process that is now common but was virtually unheard of at the time.

Workers maneuver a large, curved structure at a construction site in winter, surrounded by machinery and materials.
Youtube/South Dakota Public Radio

Since its creation in the 1960s, not much of the Keystone Wye has changed. However, the highways themselves have continued to evolve in order to keep up with high traffic, and now feature more lanes and generally wider roads.

A wooden arch bridge spans over a highway, surrounded by green hills and a cloudy sky.
Google Street View

Do you want to learn even more about this fascinating, must-see bridge? Check out this short, sweet, and informative YouTube video from our friends at South Dakota Public Broadcasting:

Did you know the story about the Keystone Wye Bridge? Have you had a chance to drive over this South Dakota modern marvel? We would love to hear about your experience and see your photos in the comments! To discover even more to see and do in the area, click on The Itty Bitty South Dakota City Of Keystone Is Actually One Of The Best Antiquing Towns In The Country.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/south-dakota/keystone-best-antique-town-sd/

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Nature
National & State Parks

Visit the Hidden Gem Small Town Right Next Door to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park

This quiet town on the Cumberland Plateau is the very definition of Appalachian charm.

by Beth Copenhaver
on Jun 7
Main street in downtown Jamestown, Tennessee, with historic buildings and shops under a bright blue sky.
Trips & Routes

You Can Explore This Tennessee Mountain City Entirely on Foot—and It’s Stunning

From the Tennessee River to the mountain lookouts above the city, Chattanooga is a walkable haven for visitors hoping to escape the heat with historic charm.

by Molly Harris
on Jun 7
Sunset over Chattanooga
Nature

Skip the Hikes and Try This Kansas Rail Trail Instead

There’s no need to hike when you can wheel or wander along this scenic Kansas rail trail.

by Stephanie Frias
on Jun 6
A meandering, gravel trail passing through green pastures with yellow blooms beneath a brilliant, blue sky. It's the Prairie Sunset Trail, a rail trail in Kansas.
Stays
Vacation Rentals

7 Waterfront Hawai’i Rentals So Stunning They Don’t Feel Real

From rainforest cabins with private waterfall pools to cliffside oceanfront homes and sandy beachfront condos, these waterfront rentals offer immersive island escapes where the sound of water, whether river, rain, or ocean, is always part of the experience.

by Kate Orlando
on Jun 6
Looking up at a waterfront Airbnb in Hawaii that overlooks a small waterfall.
Experiences
Attractions

The Hidden Attraction in New Jersey That People Still Seek Out to This Day

Hidden in plain sight, this remarkable New Jersey destination continues to spark curiosity to this day.

by Kim Falchek
on Jun 6
Birds sit on the remains of the sunken Atlantus shipwreck which sits in the waters off Sunset Beach in Cape May, New Jersey.