SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Minnehaha County Highway Department Head D.J. Buthe outlined this year's construction schedule before the Commission this morning and identified some projects not covered in the budget.

     Buthe says the County is saving about $1.9 million dollars by rehabilitating the Ellis and Baltic Bridges instead of replacing them.

     Buthe says delaying improvements to other bridges and roads only adds to costs later.  He says by waiting just a couple years on projects, the county would spend five times as much money.   It means a $100,000 rehabilitation project turns into a $500,000 project and it gains only a couple more years of service.

     Buthe says all new projects require Commission approval.

     He says between savings on the bridges and the cost of new maintenance projects, the total project contract cost this year would increase $88,000.