Drivers in Rapid City and across the Black Hills are being urged to plan ahead this week as a combination of construction projects, road closures, and holiday travel is expected to impact traffic.
In Rapid City, a portion of North Valley Drive remains closed through July 1 for water and sewer work, with detours in place. Meanwhile, fiber installation along Canyon Lake Drive begins June 29 and will cause shifting traffic patterns through late July.
A long-term closure also starts on Elm Avenue, where major road and utility reconstruction is expected to continue through late November.
In addition, several highway and local road projects are underway across the region, including chip seal work that will reduce traffic to one lane and cause delays of up to 15 minutes on multiple routes.
Drivers traveling near Mount Rushmore should also be aware of temporary closures July 2 and 3 for the Freedom 250 celebration, along with additional restrictions in the Black Hills National Forest for fireworks safety.
Officials say heavy traffic is expected with holiday events and construction happening at the same time, and are encouraging motorists to allow extra travel time and use caution in work zones.
