RAPID CITY, S.D. – The four-year priority list and financial plan for Rapid City and surrounding area transportation needs is on the way to the full city council for approval.
On Tuesday, the Rapid City Public Works Committee approved the Rapid City Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
The Rapid City MPO coordinates transportation planning for Rapid City, Box Elder, Summerset, Piedmont, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Pennington and Meade Counties.
“We’ve got some big projects coming up,” said Rapid City Long-Range Range Planning Manager Kip Harrington. “The biggest one we have is I-90 Exit 63 out by Box Elder also known as Duster’s Corner – that will be a full interchange being rebuilt out there in 2029 and 2030.”
Harrington said other large projects are planned along Highway 16 related to the Highway 16/Catron Boulevard project that will start next year and, during a similar time frame, another major project would take place on Highway 16 and Neck Yoke Road near Reptile Gardens.
Other major projects will impact the City of Rapid City. In 2028, Eglin Street is scheduled for reconstruction around Rushmore Crossing to widen the roadway to five lanes. Skyline Drive will also undergo a major reconstruction as part of the plan.
The 2027-2030 Rapid City Area TIP represents a prioritized program of transportation improvements for streets and highways, public transportation, bicycles and pedestrians. Projects are prioritized within each program and are developed cooperatively with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, local participating government agencies and the MPO committees.
Projects include:
• Rapid City Regional Airport Improvements Program: $45,750,000
• Box Elder Capital Improvement Program: $21 million
• Rapid City Capital Improvements Program: $18,424,000
• Meade County Road and Bridge Fund: $3 million
• Pennington County Road and Bridge Fund: $2 million
Among the projects identified in the report for the City of Rapid City:
• Eglin Street Reconstruction (Luna Drive to E. North Street): $4.54 million
• Skyline Drive Rehabilitation (Phases 1, 2, 3) Project: $8.896 million
• Valley Drive Reconstruction Project (Highway 44 to Windhaven Drive): $3.014 million
• West Boulevard Reconstruction Project (St. Joseph Street to West Main St.): $2.965 million
• Chapel Lane Bridge Replacement Project: $2.6 million
• Creek Drive Bridge Replacement Project: $1.72 million
• Carriage Hills Drive Reconstruction Project (Cliff Drive to Parkridge Place): $1.5 million
• Carriage Hills Drive Reconstruction Project (Parkridge Place to Corral Drive): $1 million
• Sheridan Lake Road Reconstruction Project (Canyon Lake Drive to West Main Street): $260,000
