Meade County South Dakota is considering building a new road which will connect I-90 to Highways 34/79. This is important to anyone planning to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally this year as crowds are expected to top 1 million. Anyone who has ridden through Sturgis during the rally understands that the streets and surrounding highways are nearly always congested to the point that traffic crawls very slowly causing accidents and overheating of both bikes and riders. Additionally it is nearly impossible to reach the nearby Fort Meade Veterans Hospital which is of great concern to those who rely upon their medical services.
The new road would allow direct and safe access to the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, Glencoe, Full Throttle Saloon and many other smaller rally venues from I-90. This would also alleviate some congestion through the city of Sturgis, make all area roads safer and riding more enjoyable. All bikers planning to attend the 75th Anniversary of the Sturgis Rally in 2015 should consider supporting this new road.
At this time it appears that they may build the road, although it is not yet set in stone. There is a small group of residents who object and are trying to keep the road from being built, or paved if it is completed.
Anyone interested in supporting this safer, new access road, may find and like a group of supporters on Facebook named “Meade County Community for the 131st Connector” or write to the Meade County Commissioners (jderr@meadecounty.org) and the City of Sturgis (mcc4909051@yahoo.com) Without strong support this road will not be built or may not be paved. More information is available at Sturgis 131st Connector.
A great idea, but way too late for the upcoming Rally.
Didn’t ride to the Buffalo Chip during the last 2 editions because of traffic. I missed 1 concert, too. Unable to arrive on time. Traffic is killing the Buffalo Chip for those who don’t stay there.
Even for those who stay at the Buffalo, going in & out is a huge pain.
Have not done Sturgis for more than five years; a million people is no longer a rally – it is mass hysteria…
The road would improve matters – for a few years perhaps and then it too will become congested/unpleasant.
There are far better things to do in the US on a motorcycle – do not want to mention it here (before it becomes congested as well). As far as rallies – I do mine in Germany and France; epic fun!
better late than never
Just not worth it….but hey HAVE FUN…
Sturgis will be a ripoff clusterfuck if only a half a million show up. But the half million that don’t go will be real thankful.
Rodent can’t go to Sturgis. Reason why he always makes bitter comments about the Rally.
So it will connect to I90 where exactly ? Could be a real traffic congestion reliever even if its not done this year…
Drake,
I went for some 30 consecutive years and I dropped going because it began to suck. My choice!
Rodent, tell us how you really feel about Sturgis. ..Z
Great idea, I travel the alleys during the rally, about time for better east side access.
Zipper, I wish I could by Cyril wouldn’t publish it. I will say that it went downhill when they closed “City Park”.
Numbers are always inflated. It’s ridiculous!
Looks like a great place to go dirt biking!
Rodent does not go to Sturgis
Rodent can’t enter South Dakota.
Right on Rodent! If one must go these days, go the week before and get the hell out. Still a great place to ride, but the rally is a rip off cluster. Cops don’t have such a hard on for two wheels the week before either.
Drake
the word is not “can’t ” it’s “don’t want to”
Or they can allow lane sharing on those heavily congested days. But that would make a lot of sense though
@MKVIZ, lane splitting may be a bad idea.
Of the 1 million expected to show up, about 900,000 will be riding their bikes for the first time all year and most will have just pulled them out of the trailer in Blackhawk, SD and won’t have their wits about them yet!
Great idea but sure the locals will resent outsiders trying to influence something that benefits themselves 1 or 2 weeks a year.
Send a check for $25 with your comment that the road should be built………..
We went for the 1st time on 2010. Had a great time. Traffic congestion keeps me away from it since then
Haters gonna hate………stay home, we wont miss you
Its like when Moses parted the waters do you think people bitched about the crowd ?
I just F KING hate Sturgis whiners…………worst day there still beats the best day at work 🙂
I don’t go on a 5th or a 10th anniversary year
Too crazy & Way too crowded !!!!!
Good luck to all who chose to attend this year
1550tc
So of us love our work!
I plan to go.
The road will be great to access great rides without going through town. If it’s not paved yet I’ll still use it if it’s open.
1550tc, comparing the crowd at Sturgis and the crowd escaping death in Egypt don’t belong on the same page. Hope you have a great time in Sturgis. I also enjoyed going to work. ..Z
Great Idea Gets Pretty Congested.Lots Of Money Spent In Town.
If the rally department thinks a million+ people are going to show up why didn’t they extend the rally to 2 weeks. The by-pass road is only needed for one year for the rally. The community doesn’t get any benefit from it the other 51 weeks of the year.
The city and rally department had 75 years to plan for this. You think they would have had enough time to get it right.
I’ve lived in rapid city since 1999. They have talked about the connector since then. Normal life is impossible for residents and visitors if your trip involves driving through Sturgis during the rally. Additionally traffic to the northern oil fields that has reaked havoc on local comunities will have better access to the preferred route without destroying the city streets like they do. Not building it is an inexcusable neglect of civic respinsibilities. The safety co cerns alone justify this expansion. Get on in and let the land owners deal with it. The’very kept our area in gridlock by bullying legislators for too long. Screw em. Build it. It’s your fundamental responsibility to do so with all possible haste.
The rally has gotten too big for my tastes. And this coming year is going to be insane. So I’m going to Sturgis one week after the rally is over, and will enjoy the great outdoors without all the traffic.