Spearfish Canyon rock removal to start soon

By Journal staff | Thursday, December 27, 2007

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Work to remove excess rock from a Spearfish Canyon wall near Bridal Veil Falls will begin Jan. 7, depend on weather conditions, according to a news release from the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

D.O.T. officials had planned on removing the rock this past fall, but scheduling conflicts forced them to postpone it until after the new year.

Traffic through the canyon will be limited throughout the removal process, which officials say will take about two weeks. Throughout the majority of the work, traffic will be permitted to pass through Spearfish Canyon at the beginning of each hour. However, during blasting and cleanup, D.O.T. officials anticipate the road to be closed through most of the day until all debris is removed from the roadway.

According to the news release, public notices of road closures will be given in advance of each planned blast through newspaper and radio announcements and signs at both ends of the canyon. For information about upcoming closures, call 641-5446, tune to radio state AM 1670 or go to www.SDDOT.com.

D.O.T. officials suggest travelers use Exit 17 and Highway 85 through Lead and Deadwood to avoid waiting for hourly road openings for the duration of the project. Access to Bridal Veil Falls will not be permitted on blast days because of its proximity to the work site.

Blackwing Blasting of Divide, Colo, is the blasting contractor on the project, and Quinn Construction of Rapid City will be removing the blast material.