Heartland Expressway Opens Between Fairburn and Buffalo Gap

CUSTER, SD – The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) will open 13 miles of the Heartland Expressway (Highway 79) between Fairburn and Buffalo Gap on July 1, 2005. 

Travelers will now have four lanes of divide highway between Rapid City and Buffalo Gap. Crews from Upper Plains Construction of Aberdeen, SD recently completed laying the final surface of the highway. Last year, Zandstra Construction graded the project. 

This is the third of four segments of the expressway that runs south of Rapid City to Maverick Junction near Hot Springs. The final segment between Buffalo Gap and Maverick Junction is scheduled for construction next year. Until construction is complete, drivers traveling south of Buffalo Gap should cross the median to the existing two-lane road.  

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