KOTA TV: Rockfall mitigation project will cause sporadic delays on SD 44

https://www.kotatv.com/2026/03/10/rockfall-mitigation-project-will-cause-sporadic-delays-sd-44/

A rockfall mitigation project in Cleghorn Canyon will cause sporadic traffic delays on South Dakota Highway 44/Jackson Boulevard throughout the spring.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation and Colorado-based contractors Midwest Rockfall began work removing large rocks from above the highway.

“You have the steep back slopes, the weathered rock that we have here, anything that’s going to be loose... we want to make sure we’re pulling that down first,” DOT Engineering Supervisor Steve Palmer said.

First, crews will construct a barrier between the road and the cliffs towering above it. Then, they’ll send down loose rocks from above - holding off traffic for 15 minutes at a time. Once concerning boulders have been removed from precarious positions, crews will construct a fence to catch rocks that fall in the future.

Palmer says the traffic delays will be postponed until after most people have made their way to work.

“We won’t start that until about 8:30 in the morning,” Palmer said. “We want to make sure that morning commuters can come in unimpeded, and then we’ll start holding traffic 15 minutes at a time.”

The project is expected to conclude by July 31, with Palmer suggesting an early completion is possible.

Watch the news story here.