Whether you call it a bypass or a connector, the road around Rapid City officially opened for business Monday.

Local, state and federal politicians gave their blessing to the new Interstate 90 Exit 61 and its route around Rapid City to the south.

All who spoke praised the joint effort that produced the interchange, which is a link in what is known as the Heartland Expressway, a four-lane highway from South Dakota to Colorado.

Not everyone likes the route, with several Rapid City business owners concerned that it will draw tourist traffic away from the center of the city and Mount Rushmore Road.

"I call the Southeast Connector the bypass, so you can tell what I think of it," said Debra Jensen, who, along with her husband, Jack, runs Black Hills Bagels on Mount Rushmore Road.

If tourists will take the chance to bypass the city for a fast lane to Mount Rushmore, they risk missing all the things that make Rapid City special, she said.

"I don't think the bypass does anything to bring visitors to Rapid City or have them stay longer," she said. Roads like the connector "don't always end up doing what they're supposed to be doing. They take a lot of good with them."

The intersection and the road itself was the result of millions of dollars of federal and state funding, Gov. Mike Rounds said.

"That doesn't happen overnight," he said. "It takes years of work and a lot of support by elected officials at all levels."

Mayor Alan Hanks joined Rounds, Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson and numerous other politicians and business representatives at the dedication ceremony Monday.

The road, also known as the Southeast Connector for its role on the southeast side of the city, serves as a highway shortcut to Highway 16 and the heart of the Black Hills.

Last year, the state Department of Transportation changed several highway signs to show there were several routes to Mount Rushmore, and Exit 61 is to be considered a truck route, after business owners expressed concern.

For his part, Bill Honerkamp isn't sending the tourists away from Rapid City. Honerkamp, president of the Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association, said staff members at the visitor's center at Exit 61 continue to send almost everyone into the city on their way to Mount Rushmore and points beyond.

The only exceptions are the big vehicles - big rigs or fifth-wheel trailers - whose drivers likely don't want to get snarled up in city traffic and might want the smooth path to the south of town.

"That's how we regard it, as a truck route, or a heavy-hauler route," he said.

Honerkamp said he knew Exit 61 would serve as an excellent spot for the visitor's center, but didn't expect the kind of retail growth that is beginning to mushroom in the area with the opening of Cabela's and the Rushmore Crossing retail stores.

He said he would expect Exit 61 will develop into an area similar to Exit 57's shopping and hotel rooms.

"Now, the whole neighborhood seems to be the epicenter of a major shopping and hospitality district,' he said. "Keep your eyes on the neighborhood here. It appears it's really going to blossom."

Contact Jeremy Fugleberg at 394-8421 or jeremy.fugleberg@rapidcityjournal.com