We all know that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a pretty big deal for any motorcycle-loving man, woman, or child in the US. Hundreds of thousands of visitors annually flock South Dakota to be part of the event so it’s no surprise that state’s Department of Transportation is doing the necessary work to keep the streets in the state from getting too crowded.

More than any other year in recent memory, 2015 is expected to be even more chaotic as South Dakota’s DOT has announced its plan to prepare for as many as 1.2 million visitors to attend the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August 2015. For those not familiar with the visitation numbers attached to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the DOT’s current estimate is staggering beyond belief.

Supposing that the number falls somewhere around the agency’s more conservative estimate of 800,000 visitors, that would still be double the numbers the event has attracted in recent years. 800,000 visitors would also be almost 200,000 more than the modern-day record of 605,140 visitors set in 2003.

Now, can you imagine if the DOT’s top-number estimate - 1.2 million visitors - is reached. That’s a recipe for madness descending in South Dakota and that’s precisely why the state is preparing for all possible measures to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone attending the event. Multiple reports indicate that engineers from the DOT are already working on possible scenarios during the event, including the extending of the Interstate 90 off-ramp at Exit 30 by 1,000 feet to accommodate the expected rush in visitors to the event. Emergency routes and safety equipments are also being prepared within the city of Sturgis, including speed trailers, temporary traffic signals, and numerous message board spread throughout the area.

Needless to say, everyone appears to be in agreement that the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be one for the books. Whether that’s for good or bad is a question best left to be answered by the DOT and the organizers of the event.

Continue reading to read more about all the planning ahead of the 2015 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

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