Construction of new KDLO tower continues in northeastern SD

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELOLAND) — Construction continues on the tallest structure being built in North America this year.

Precision Communications, an Oklahoma-based broadcast tower and antenna service company, has been hired to help KELOLAND Media Group install a new KDLO-TV tower in rural Clark County located near Garden City.

The 1,705-foot KDLO tower collapsed in a winter storm because of ice accumulation in December 2022. A second 800-foot tower collapsed a few hours later impacting over-the-air channels for 3.1 and 3.2 in northeastern South Dakota.

KELOLAND Media Group Chief Engineer Brian Baier said cleanup and demolition of the old KDLO tower, which stood since 1978, started immediately after the storm. This spring, crews began the process of building a new KDLO tower.

“The new tower will be 1,705-feet tall and the antenna itself is 105-feet long and weighs about 24,000 pounds,” Baier said. “It will cover the same amount of area.”