For Immediate Release: Friday, June 27, 2014

Contact: Kristi Sandal, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3265

       Highway 34 From Howes East Remains Closed

PIERRE S.D. – South Dakota Department of Transportation officials say a two-and-a-half mile section of Highway 34 from Howes Corner east remains closed.

Officials closed Highway 34 east of Howes on Monday, June 23, to start drawing down the water from Howes Lake and Buffalo Lake to assess erosion damage and finalize repair plans.

The draw-down is proceeding well and work is progressing to reopen the roadway to traffic.

Depending on the amount of rain the area receives over the weekend from predicted storms, officials are planning to make a determination on the future status of the closure early next week.

While the road is closed, travelers from the east are being detoured north on Highway 63 to Highway 212, then west on Highway 212 to Highway 73 at Faith and south on Highway 73 back to Highway 34. Travelers from the west will be detoured north on 73, east on 212 and south on 63 back to Highway 34. Because of the length of that detour - 76 miles - travelers are encouraged to consider an alternate route, depending on their destination.

 For complete road construction information, visit www.safetravelusa.com/sd or dial 511.

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