RAPID CITY, S.D. – US Highway 385 is a main route between Custer and Deadwood and is one of most highly traveled roads in the Black Hills.
Highway 385 is already under construction with much of it down to one lane between the Pactola Dam and the Pennington-Lawrence county line.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) is reconstructing a portion of U.S. Highway 385 between the Pennington-Lawrence county line and the south end of Sheridan Lake (Calumet Road). Once completed, this section of Highway 385 will feature safety improvements, including wider shoulders on each side of the road where possible, improved road curves to meet current design standards, additional turning lanes to improve traffic flow, and new surfacing.
Beginning on March 12 and continuing through mid-July, construction will ramp up with temporary closures, detours, and delays expected along this stretch of the highway. An informational open house is planned between 4-7pm at the Rimrock Church, 12200 SD Highway 44, Rapid City, on March 12.
Phase 1 of construction will include lines of traffic following pilot cars, loose gravel on the road, and temporary closures. Highway 385 will be closed between the north boat ramp to Pactola Dam from May 20 to July 12. Another closure will occur between South Dakota Highway 44 to the north boat ramp from May 20 to June 7.
Closures of major roads like Highway 385 impact more than just tourists. It presents challenges for first responders in the area who rely on the routes to respond to calls.
”The areas that are already mapped out, those areas will shift as far as the first response to those areas,” said Jerome Harvey, Pennington County’s Fire Administrator. “But there should be no change as far as response that the public will see from the fire departments.”
The road closures will also make it more difficult to access sites along the eastern side of Lake Pactola. For example, the north boat ramp will be accessible only on weekends from May 20 until June 7.
Additional sites including the visitor center, the marina, and campgrounds along the lake will be accessible only coming from the south on Highway 385 from May 20 to July 12.
For more information and for updates, see online.
The public can also subscribe to a free text-in service to get live updates on major traffic changes. To subscribe, text “US385” to 605-566-4041.
