A Second Exit from This Area

We have only one way into and out of this area.  A fire moving from the North or West to the South or East could cut off the only way out of this area.  Additionally the nature of the terrain would create a chimney effect and draw the fire right up the valley.  A flood that takes out the bridge would also leave us stranded.  In the event that the area needed to be evacuated quickly, an accident on the bridge would cause unnecessary and perhaps life threatening delays. 

A second exit from this area has become a hot button issue for the City Council since Mike Derby has proposed the development of his property on Canyon Lake. 

I attended a City Council Legal and Finance Committee Meeting on October 1, 2008 where the committee approved "Authorization to Seek Request for Proposal for the Preparation of the Chapel Valley Access Traffic Analysis, Route Alignment Study and Environmental Assessment"

What that means is they are going to study various ways to provide a second exit from the Chapel Valley Area. 

Update:  The Rapid City Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold an open house to begin developine alternative alignments for an alternative means of access to the Chapel Valley Area Wednesday July 8, 2009 from 5 PM to 7 PM at the West Community Center, 1003 Soo San Drive Rapid City.  Please attend if you can