A gravel mine that will help build a portion of the Billings Bypass got a green light for operations from Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday.

Located at the east end of Johnson Lane in Lockwood, JDW Industrial Park 2 applied for a zoning special review from Heavy Industrial to Open Cut Mining.   The application which expands the already existing Kembel Post Gravel Mine was approved, as was recommended by the Zoning Board,  with standard criteria regarding how it must operate.  The expansion  involves 43.3 acres and was presented by Jennifer Kondracki, acting on behalf of owners James and Diane Weaver.

The application said that they expect to be in operation for about five years as they provide gravel for the building of the Yellowstone River highway bridge and right-of-way to the east of the property.