Posted in South Dakota August 02, 2020 by

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

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:

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Nestled away in the Black Hills, the Keystone Wye is a South Dakota architectural marvel that consists of two structural glued laminated timber bridges.
Google Street View
Do you want to learn even more about this fascinating, must-see bridge? 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.
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.
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. 
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. 
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:

Have you had a chance to drive over this 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.

Address: Keystone, SD 57751, USA