RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Transportation is asking for public feedback on a proposed Highway 385 improvement project near the Strawberry Hill picnic area and fishing pond in Lawrence County.
The project would reconstruct and straighten a curve on U.S. Highway 385, about four miles south of U.S. Highway 85, and would also realign the entrance to the Strawberry Hill recreation area.
Because the work involves land within a U.S. Forest Service-managed recreation site, the project is subject to federal protections for parks and public recreation areas. SDDOT says the project would permanently use about one-third of an acre of the picnic area and temporarily impact about 3.25 acres during construction.
State officials say the changes are expected to have only minimal effects on the recreation area and are proposing what’s known as a “de minimis impact” finding.
Plans call for keeping the picnic area accessible during construction and coordinating work with the U.S. Forest Service.
The public can review project information and submit comments through September 11th.
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