By Scott Shephard

It’s an understatement to say that we take bridges for granted. I rarely thank a bridge builder for creating a seamless way to get from Point A to Point B when I cross a bridge. In that way bridges are subliminal, as are many other facets of the infrastructure we take for granted.

But there are exceptions. The Platte-Winner Bridge pictured here is one. It’s hard not to notice when you drive across this bridge, which happens to be the longest bridge in South Dakota. Built in 1966, it’s a little over a mile long and was built in part to provide another route for tourists to get to the Black Hills. It’s 55 years old, fairly narrow and I’ve read that it’s slated for replacement. I’m not nervous when I drive across it, but perhaps I should be.

Fear of bridges is gefyrophobia but I tend to love bridges (gefyrophila) more than hate them. That aside, I can’t help wonder how life in this part of South Dakota would be affected if this bridge should fail. If you lived on the western bank above the bridge (as some do) and worked in Platte, SD, your 13 mile commute would become a 95 mile trip if you had to use the I90 bridge to the north or a 110 mile commute if you went south to Pickstown.

I am hereby declaring this week as “Thank A Bridgebuider Week.” (I’m a total nerd to say it but the Latin for “bridgebuilder” is pontifex.) Look for the bridges you cross and be appreciative. But don’t wonder too much about the condition of the bridges. I’d hate to contribute to a rise in gephyrobobia.

Mavic 2 Pro Drone 1/500 sec f/2.8 ISO 100