Road repair crews in northeastern South Dakota have been behind schedule for much of the year because of precipitation.

It all started last fall, which was wet. Then last winter, many counties had more snow than usual, followed by spring rains and flooding. And a cool summer with more rain contributed to the delays.

Jan Weismantel, Brown County's highway superintendent, says even a normal winter's snowfall will mean flooding next year.

Day County highway superintendent Chuck Fromelt says highway departments are supposed to be able to catch up in the fall -- but it hasn't happened because of the rain.

In a normal year, Day County has to repair 15 to 20 blowouts in gravel roads. This year, Fromelt says the total has been a couple of hundred.

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