Asphalt Paving in Keystone, SD

Asphalt paving in Keystone is mostly commercial. The town of 240 people (2020 census) sits just outside Mount Rushmore National Memorial and serves the millions of visitors who come each year. Hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions need lots that drain well, handle tour buses and RVs, and are striped clearly enough for drivers who have never been there before.

Mining roots

Keystone began in 1883 as a mining town and most likely took its name from a local mine named for the keystone Masonic symbol. It sits at about 4,554 feet in Pennington County. The Black Hills Central Railroad, built in 1900 to serve gold mining, now runs steam passenger trains between Keystone and Hill City.

The 1972 flood

Keystone was heavily damaged in the June 1972 Black Hills flood, when nearly 15 inches of rain fell in about six hours to the north near Nemo. In a narrow canyon town, water still moves fast during heavy storms. Lots and driveways here need grading that sends water to safe outlets and culverts that are sized and kept clear.

Timing around the season

Keystone's businesses earn most of their year in summer. We recommend paving, overlays and sealcoating in spring or after Labor Day, and we phase work so entrances stay open. Striping follows once the surface is ready.

Buses and RVs

Tour buses and RVs are heavy and turn tightly. Entrances, drive lanes and bus parking need thicker sections than car stalls, and concrete pads can make sense where buses idle. We lay out wide stalls and clear arrows so traffic flows in one direction.

Approaches

New or changed approaches on Pennington County roads need a county permit, $250 plus a $2,500 surety deposit refunded after final inspection; state highway entrances go through SDDOT. Accessible stalls are laid out to the 2010 ADA Standards when lots are restriped.

Costs

HomeAdvisor lists asphalt lots at about $2 to $4.50 per square foot and sealcoating at $0.15 to $0.30. HomeGuide lists striping at $4 to $5 per stall and $25 to $40 per accessible stall. A spring maintenance package keeps a lot ready for summer at a fraction of reconstruction.

Typical jobs here

In Keystone, most requests are for lot overlays, patching worn entrances, sealcoating and restriping ahead of summer. We also see steep residential drives on the hillsides, which need the same water control and edge support as anywhere in the Hills.

Call (605) 605-1613 or

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