Dell Rapids has an updated truck route ordinance which includes a secondary truck route.  Dell Rapids City Ordinance 856 had a second reading and adoption passed during the regular council meeting on Tuesday, September 4th, but the ordinance did not go into effect until October 1st.

The new primary truck route is as follows:

1. State Highway 115 from the west boundary of the city turning southeast to the south boundary of the city.
2. Quartzite Street from State Highway 115 on the west to Garfield Avenue on the east.
3. Garfield Avenue between Quartzite Street and Seventh Street.
4. Seventh Street from Garfield Avenue on the west to the east boundary of the city.
5. County Highway 129 from the north boundary of the city angling southeast to where the highway intersects State Highway 115 (Fourth Street) and continuing south on State Highway 115 to the south boundary of the city.
6. Zero Street from State Highway 115 on the east to Quarry Road on the west.
7. The entire portions of Quarry Road and Quartzite Street.

The new secondary truck route is as follows:

1. Third Street from State Highway 115 on the west to Orleans Avenue on the east.
2. Orleans Avenue between Third Street and Fourth Street.
3. Fourth Street between Orleans Avenue and Garfield Avenue.

Signs for the new truck routes that will be placed by the city and the South Dakota Department of Transportation should be completely installed within the next couple of weeks according to comments made by City Administrator Justin Weiland during the last city council meeting.

A question was also raised as to when the new railroad gates would be installed on South Dakota Highway 115 on the south end of town.  It was reported that those gates would be installed after the sidewalks were completely finished to avoid potentially having to come back and move them during sidewalk placements.

The Dell Rapids City Council approved a new truck route agreement with the South Dakota Department of Transportation at their last regular meeting on Monday, May 15th.  The new truck route will be put in place temporarily during the construction happening at Exit 98 (Dell Rapids interchange) of Interstate 29.

The temporary truck route will run on Garfield Ave from 4th St to Quartzite St.  Trucks will then be able to gain access to Hwy 115 from Quartzite St.

As part of the agreement, dust control will also be maintained on Garfield Ave from Centennial Place to Quartzite St.  Garfield Ave will be replaced to its current condition after the the truck use is completed.

The motion was made by Alderman Mike Geraets to accept the agreement and seconded by Alderman Gary Haak.  The motion passed.

During the last Dell Rapids City Council meeting on Monday, June 6th, the Dell Rapids City Council approved changes to the truck route.  The amended truck route ordinance passed the second reading by a 7-0 vote.

The ordinance now states that a truck over eight tons or more must use the truck route, but may operate off the truck route when it becomes necessary to travel to another street for the purpose of loading or unloading, when instructed to do by any lawful order, authorized emergency vehicle, contractor when engaging in repair, maintenance or construction of city streets or city improvements, or when the operator of the truck obtains special temporary authority.

The truck route ordinance also states that garbage or recycling collector trucks with tandem rear axles or a single dually with pusher used to pick up items from customers located on a regular established route shall not exceed 20 tons total gross weight.  Garbage or recycling collector trucks with less than tandem axles shall not exceed 10 tons total gross weight.  Garbage or recycling collector trucks used to empty large dumpsters or roll-off containers are exempt from the city weight restrictions provided the trucks only deviate from the truck route(s) as is reasonably necessary.