Drivers in Butte and Harding counties should prepare for delays as major road work begins later this month. The South Dakota Department of Transportation says construction starts Monday, March 30, on Highway 85, about 20 miles north of Belle Fourche.
Crews will replace a box culvert at Hilderbrand Creek, and traffic will stay open in both directions using a temporary gravel bypass. Drivers can expect reduced speeds, a 16-foot width restriction, and occasional short delays.
Later this summer, similar drainage work is planned on Highway 20 west of Reva. That project will include pipe installation and grading, with single lane traffic, flaggers, and a pilot car guiding vehicles through the work zone. A 16-foot width restriction will also be in place there.
The two projects total about $2.1 million and are being handled by Complete Concrete Inc. Work is expected to wrap up by October 30, weather permitting.
Drivers can check road conditions and travel alerts anytime at sd511.org or by dialing 511.
