Cement plant closes popular shortcut

Safety, liability concerns prompted closing Cement Plant Road

By Scott Aust, Journal staff | Thursday, September 11, 2008

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Safety concerns led to the shutdown earlier this summer of a popular shortcut between West Chicago Street and Deadwood Avenue that crossed GCC Dacotah property, according to the plant manager.

Gates went up in June blocking access from Cement Plant Road and St. Onge Street, but the restrictions were planned and discussed for more than a year, and had been prompted by concerns for public safety because of the large trucks and railroad traffic moving in and out the plant.

Despite being used by the public for many years, the road through the property is not public right of way. It is a private road, owned and maintained by GCC Dacotah, according to plant manager Steve Post.

"We felt with the trucks and rail traffic in and out of our plant there were some significant and serious safety concerns," Post said. "Essentially, without any law enforcement, to my knowledge, being able to enforce the stop signs and everything else, we went ahead and blocked it off."

Post said plant officials had concerns for some time, but a couple of factors prompted the decision. The first was an accident involving some youths who drove into the truck-turnaround area, essentially "racing," one following the other. One driver lost control, and that car became high-centered on a stump.

"There were no serious injuries, fortunately, but there was a young lady in the car who got injured, though I don't know the extent," Post said. "That was kind of a wake-up call."

Secondly, plant officials observed what the city went through with liability issues after an accident in Canyon Lake Park severely injured some youths and led to a lawsuit against the city. Post indicated that GCC didn't want to leave the company open to potential lawsuits by leaving the short-cut open.

"That showed the seriousness of what can occur. Not to say we'd be in a similar situation to that case, but it's definitely one of those things you're exposed to," Post said.

Mayor Alan Hanks said there have long been signs indicating it was a private road, even as far back as when he was a kid. He said the city has not received any complaints about the plant's decision and indicated it was entirely their decision.

"They have the ability, if they so choose, not to allow traffic through there. It's like anybody else: If you have a private road, it's yours. It's private property," Hanks said. 

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com