Current Construction

• Closure E (Pactola Dam to Taylor Ranch Road) is currently in place and ends on Friday, March 6, 2026. Outside of the closure area, construction crews continue to work on the roadway.
• The intersection of Custer Gulch Road and U.S. Highway 385 has been temporarily moved 300 feet to the north. A temporary diversion is in place while the contactor continues work on a box culvert in this area.
• In preparation of winter weather, the contractor has placed road markers and reflective delineators along the roadway between Sheridan Lake Road and Calumet Road.
• Roadway grading is taking place between Sheridan Lake Road and McCurdy Gulch Road.
• Within the closure area, the contractor is currently conducting planned rock blasts, excavating and replacing culverts, and grading the roadway.

Upcoming Construction:

• Throughout the winter, the roadway surfacing within the construction area will be a combination of pavement, blotter (hard, packed surface that resembles asphalt), and gravel. The surface of Highway 385 from Wrinkle Valley Road to 1/2-mile from South Sanders Ranch Road and from Sheridan Lake Road to 1/2-mile to the north will be gravel.

  Closure

  On Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, U.S. Highway 385 from the south end of Pactola Dam to Taylor Ranch Road closes to through traffic. The road will reopen on Friday, March 6, 2026. This road closure is part of the Highway 385 construction project taking place from the south end of Pactola Dam to Calumet Road. Local access to Victoria Lake Road and McCurdy Gulch Road will be maintained.

  Detour

  The posted detour will be S.D. Highway 44 and U.S. Highway 16. The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) recommends that travelers exercise caution when using non-maintained roadways.

  Recreation Facility Impacts

  • Pactola Reservoir north and south accesses will remain open. To access Pactola Reservoir North Boat Ramp, approach from the north. To access Pactola Reservoir and nearby facilities from the south via Custer Gulch Road, approach from the south.
  • Pactola Visitor Center is closed for the season.

  Emergency Services

  Emergency services are aware of these closures and are closely collaborating with the contractor to provide response coverage.