Black Hills Bottlenecks: Road work update for the week of May 11

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – More road work and travel impacts are set to begin across western South Dakota this week, with projects ranging from highway striping and crack sealing to temporary rest area closures as well as an upcoming public meeting on a bridge replacement project in Keystone.

The first projects begin Monday, May 11.

S.D. Highway 44: Striping work

On S.D. Highway 44, crews will complete striping work from about 1.5 miles east of Farmingdale to roughly 10.75 miles east of the community.

Work is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and is expected to continue through Tuesday evening. Drivers should expect daytime lane impacts in the area.

U.S. Highway 385: Striping work

Also beginning Monday, striping operations are scheduled on U.S. Highway 385 from about one mile south of the U.S. Highway 85 junction near Deadwood to the junction itself. Work is expected to take place during daytime hours Monday through Tuesday.

Pavement preservation project on S.D. Highway 20

A pavement preservation project is also scheduled to start Monday on S.D. Highway 20 between Buffalo and Camp Crook. Crews will be sealing cracks in the roadway as part of the project. Traffic will be reduced to one lane during daytime hours, with flaggers and a pilot car guiding motorists through the work zone. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

The contractor for the $112,155 project is Highway Improvement, Inc. of Sioux Falls. The overall completion date is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and use caution around crews and construction equipment in all work zones.

Wasta rest area spring cleaning

Additional travel impacts are expected latter this week with temporary closures planned at the Wasta Rest Areas along Interstate 90 for annual spring cleaning.

The eastbound Wasta Rest Area near mile marker 98 will close at 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, and reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. After that reopening, the westbound rest area will close from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14. Travelers are encouraged to make alternate plans during the closures.

Public meeting on future bridge replacement project along U.S. Highway 16A in Keystone

On Thursday, May 14, the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Complete Concrete, Inc. will host a public informational meeting on a future bridge replacement project along U.S. Highway 16A in Keystone.

The open house-style meeting will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Keystone Community Center, 1101 Madill St. Officials say the meeting is intended to provide project details and answer questions from residents, businesses and emergency personnel.

The bridge replacement project is scheduled to begin in October. Plans call for replacing the existing bridge with a box culvert and include additional improvements such as intersection upgrades, resurfacing, pavement markings, traffic signals, ADA upgrades and erosion control. Pedestrian access on both sides of the structure will also be improved.

More information on the Keystone project is available at South Dakota Department of Transportation’s project page.

Current road conditions, closures and construction updates can be found at SD511 or by dialing 511.

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