SDDOT Reminds of October 1 Deadline for Hay Removal from Highway Ditches

SDDOT Reminds of October 1 Deadline for Hay Removal from Highway Ditches

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024

Contact: Julie Stevenson, Strategic Communications Coordinator, 605-773-2898

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) would like to remind farmers and ranchers to remove any hay that has been processed in the ditches along state highways. State regulations require that hay be removed from the rights-of-way with 30 days of being processed, but no later than October 1 each year.

"We're beginning our preparations for winter operations," stated Craig Smith, SDDOT Director of Operations. "We're asking for cooperation from anyone who had processed hay to remove it over the next week."

Removing hay from the highway right-of-way is an important safety consideration for motorists. Hay can be a safety hazard for vehicles forced to leave the road and, in some cases, can restrict a driver's sight distance. When left in the road ditches late in the year, hay can also cause snowdrifts across the highway.

For questions, please contact the appropriate area engineer. Contact information for each area office is available at https://dot.sd.gov/inside-sddot/region-area-offices/region-area-offices or call the office of Operations Support at 605-773-3571.

About SDDOT:

The mission of the South Dakota Department of Transportation is to provide a safe and efficient public transportation system.

For the latest on road and weather conditions, road closures, construction work zones, commercial vehicle restrictions, and traffic incidents, please visit https://sd511.org or dial 511.

Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov.

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