South Dakota Panel Approves Ditch Closings

Two segments of ditches on South Dakota Highways 50 and 52 in the Yankton area and one segment of Highway 44 near Chancellor have been closed, effective immediately, to off-road vehicles.

The State Transportation Commission held a public hearing on Thursday and voted to approve the closures.

At Chancellor, the DOT says the eastbound and westbound ditches of SD44 are closed from SD17 to 461st Avenue.

Also placed off-limits, in the Yankton area, are:
Highway 50 from Ferdig Avenue to Belair Road, from near mile marker     385 to near mile marker 388 in the north ditch.
Highway 52 from Highway 153 to West City Limits Road, from near mile     marker 338 to near mile marker 342 in both the north and south ditches.

The DOT and the Commission say the ditches were closed because off-road vehicles have damaged vegetation and caused ditch erosion.