A downed power line has shut down Highway 14 just west of Philip, says the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s FB post from yesterday afternoon:
For a few more hours, the nicest drive from Pierre to Rapid City is closed, so plan accordingly. The line likely got knocked down in Saturday’s thunderstorm. Any lineman out trying to fix the line last night had to run for cover from wind and hail again last night.
The Sunday crew at KELO-TV kinda helps spread that word but leaves out one important detail: Which part of Highway 14 is closed?
A two-mile section of U.S. Highway 14 is closed due to a downed power line.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation says the work on the powerline will cause this portion of the highway to be closed to through traffic.
Travelers are asked to take a different route at this time.
Officials anticipate the work being completed sometime Monday [Lexi Kerzman, “Downed Power Line Causes Road Closure on Highway 14,” KELO-TV, 2022.06.12].
If all people do is read KELO’s text, everyone from Elkton to Spearfish will be heading up to 212 or down to 34, I-90, and 44. The closure is just west of Philip, folks. If you’re heading from Pierre to Rapid or vice versa today, just stick with I-90.
My cousins in the area report that there is a short local detour on gravel roads that might add a mile or so to your trip. I agree the initial reports were less than helpful identifying the closed portion of the road.
I also agree US-14 is the most scenic route from Pierre to Rapid City. The Bad River Valley from Midland to Wall is beautiful and should be on a list of fall foliage routes every fall. If you’ve never driven it in October it is worth the trip.
SDDOT announced Monday morning that the closed stretch was open again.
Whoo-hoo! Thanks, Bob, DOT, and linemen—let’s drive!
And dang, I was slow on that update: DOT poted the open notice last night at 6:26 p.m.!
Also exciting, if you’re not in a hurry and don’t mind gravel, is the Bad River Road from Midland to Fort Pierre.
Utilities are not your friends so if you can afford to leave the grid do it now and put them out of business.
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Where was Ravnsborg driving that day?
Bad River Road is an undiscovered (by nearly all but the locals ) gem…a very historic trail turned into a county road that follows the river. Much of the adjoining land now owned by Ted Turner who vowed to keep it as it is.