KOTA Territory NewsCity presents options for second Chapel Valley access road

City presents options for second Chapel Valley access road

Rapid City brings forward several potential options to construct a second road into Chapel Valley.

On Tuesday night, the city presented the results of its Chapel Valley access road feasibility study.  The city explored 15 different plans and determined only three were feasible.

Currently, only one three-lane road runs in and out of the area, leading to fears that it would be difficult evacuate in the event of a flood or fire.  Even so, homeowners are split on the idea of second road.

“I think it's good for Chapel Valley,” homeowner Ryan N. Madsen said.  “We need a second access road. I lived there during the Westberry Trails fire, and it got scary at times.”

“I think we [homeowners] all bought in Chapel Valley, knowing that in 30 years, when the valley was developed, there was only one way in and one way out and we'd prefer to leave it that way,” Bill Keck said.

 Last fall, developer Mike Derby's plans to expand his resort next to the Canyon Lake Chophouse on Chapel Lane derailed because of fears the area couldn't handle the extra traffic created by the resort.

While Derby supports building a second access road, he's yet to decide if he'll restart his plans.

 “That project's on hold and I'm going to wait and see what happens in the valley,” Derby said.  “In the meantime, we're remodeling and updating our existing property and just taking care of business.”

 City staff will likely bring a proposal to the city council in mid- February.