U.S. Route 16A (South Dakota)
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 16A is a scenic United States highway, which divides from U.S. Route 16
in the Black Hills
of South Dakota
. The highway's eastern terminus is at a junction with US 16 called the Keystone Wye
south of Rapid City, South Dakota
. The western terminus is a junction with US 16 in Custer, South Dakota
.
; Norbeck Wildlife Refuge; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and Custer State Park
(including State Game Lodge and Legion Lake); before rejoining the parent highway.
US 16A is famous for its scenic, one-lane tunnels aligned to frame the faces on Mount Rushmore, its "pigtail bridge
s", and its sections of divided highway but with single (and narrow) lanes on each roadway. It is the only route which can be used to drive through Custer State Park without having to pay an entrance fee for the park, provided the traveler does not stop in the Park.
Portions of US 16A are known as the Iron Mountain Road. The route includes most of the tunnels on the South Dakota state highway system, including the only four-lane tunnel in the state, just north of Keystone. Part of the highway is also a boundary of the Black Elk Wilderness
. The Iron Mountain portion of the road is not maintained in the winter. The road, like several other scenic roads in the Black Hills, was originally laid out by Governor Peter Norbeck
, specifically to create a very scenic, slow-speed road for tourists. The section of US 16A from SD 89
to SD 244
is known as the Peter Norbeck Memorial Byway in honor of the governor. At the highest point of the byway, there is a small memorial to Governor Norbeck.
of South Dakota
(now South Dakota Highway 240) was designated US 16A between 1944 and 1980.
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
in the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. The highway's eastern terminus is at a junction with US 16 called the Keystone Wye
Keystone Wye
Keystone Wye is an interchange of US 16 and US 16A located in the Black Hills, featuring two unique structural glued laminated timber bridges. The Keystone Wye is a trumpet-style three-way interchange for the two divided highways, constructed in 1966-67 as part of the project by SD Department of...
south of Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. The western terminus is a junction with US 16 in Custer, South Dakota
Custer, South Dakota
Custer is a city in Custer County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,067 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...
.
Route description
The route passes through Keystone, South DakotaKeystone, South Dakota
Keystone is a town in the Black Hills region of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 337 at the 2010 census. It had its origins in 1883 as a mining town, and has since transformed itself into a resort town, serving the needs of the millions of visitors to Mount...
; Norbeck Wildlife Refuge; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and Custer State Park
Custer State Park
Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park is South Dakota's largest and first state park, named after Lt...
(including State Game Lodge and Legion Lake); before rejoining the parent highway.
US 16A is famous for its scenic, one-lane tunnels aligned to frame the faces on Mount Rushmore, its "pigtail bridge
Pigtail bridge
A spiral bridge, loop bridge, or pigtail bridge is a road bridge which loops over its own road, allowing the road to climb rapidly...
s", and its sections of divided highway but with single (and narrow) lanes on each roadway. It is the only route which can be used to drive through Custer State Park without having to pay an entrance fee for the park, provided the traveler does not stop in the Park.
Portions of US 16A are known as the Iron Mountain Road. The route includes most of the tunnels on the South Dakota state highway system, including the only four-lane tunnel in the state, just north of Keystone. Part of the highway is also a boundary of the Black Elk Wilderness
Black Elk Wilderness
The Black Elk Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The wilderness was designated by an act of Congress in 1980. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Black Elk Wilderness is part of Black Hills National Forest. This 13,426 acre region is considered sacred to Native Americans,...
. The Iron Mountain portion of the road is not maintained in the winter. The road, like several other scenic roads in the Black Hills, was originally laid out by Governor Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck
Peter Norbeck served as the ninth Governor of South Dakota, and as a United States Senator. Norbeck was the first Governor of South Dakota to have been born within the borders of the state.-Biography:...
, specifically to create a very scenic, slow-speed road for tourists. The section of US 16A from SD 89
South Dakota Highway 89
South Dakota Highway 89 is a state highway in southwest South Dakota. The highway is long and runs from U.S. Route 18 near Minnekahta to South Dakota Highway 87 in Custer State Park. SD 89 is co-signed with U.S. Route 385 from Pringle to Custer...
to SD 244
South Dakota Highway 244
South Dakota Highway 244 is a short state highway located entirely within Pennington County, South Dakota which provides access to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Highway 244 runs generally east–west between its eastern terminus at US 16A near Keystone and its western terminus at US 16/US...
is known as the Peter Norbeck Memorial Byway in honor of the governor. At the highest point of the byway, there is a small memorial to Governor Norbeck.
History
An older road through the BadlandsBadlands National Park
Badlands National Park, in southwest South Dakota, United States preserves of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the United States....
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
(now South Dakota Highway 240) was designated US 16A between 1944 and 1980.