LifeLight Commute Concerns in Lincoln County

by Melissa Payne
July 28, 2010


The Lifelight music festival is now on a farm near Worthing, South Dakota.

The 3 day Christian music festival brings in thousands of people to the state, but now, the road to the stage is going to be rocky.

People travel from across the country to the LifeLight Festival, but for some, the real adventure may just be driving those last couple miles, leading to the stage.

"Some people might not be familiar with driving on gravel," said Lincoln County Sheriff, Dennis Johnson.
 
Ruts and rocks cover the roads.  High speeds could have the cars skidding.
        
"If you're not familiar with it, it's just something to be aware of, you can get caught on loose gravel and it can pull you into the ditch," said Johnson.

To get to the main entrance of the festival, cars will be heading down two gravel roads, but it's not just the loose rock that has some concerned.  The corn that lines the roads will make it difficult for drivers to see what's around the corner.

"Anybody driving on gravel, slow down and use common sense and they'll be fine," said Johnson.

Event organizers say, once the cars turn off the smooth highways, there won't be a need for speed.
    
"If they're in the traffic pattern, they're not going to be able to go fast because they are all going to be in a line, and people will direct them," said Julie Klinger, LifeLight Festival Director.
    
Thousands of cars will all be heading to the same place, at the same time, and gridlock on the gravel may be the only option. 

"That could create a little bit of a problem if people just decide to invent their own pattern to get out here," said Klinger.

Organizers say, it's worth the wait, and the music will be playing all night long.

Festival goers are also encouraged to camp on site to cut down on traffic jams after the music ends.

m_payne@kdlt.com