Road Construction Update #1

May 19, 2009
09-30
Construction work on the Snake River Bridge near Flagg Ranch Resort—2.5 miles south of Yellowstone National Park’s entrance gate—will be underway during the Memorial Day weekend, resulting in minor traffic delays of 15-20 minutes. The deck of the Snake River Bridge has been reduced to only one lane; consequently, traffic flow will be somewhat restricted. Reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge will also require a limited number of overnight travel closures during the next few weeks. Closures are scheduled to occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Specific dates for these overnight travel closures will be announced at a later time.

Reconstruction of the North Park Road in Grand Teton, between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort, began in 2008. During the 2009 travel season, road construction activities will again be underway to widen and repave the park road and complete the reconstruction of the Snake River Bridge. Motorists are advised to expect daytime travel delays of up to 30 minutes from now through the end of November. Important note: Work on the North Park Road will cease on weekends during July and August—and during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holiday weekends—to allow for unfettered traffic flow during peak travel times.

Starting Sunday, June 8, the Signal Mountain Summit Road will be closed to weekday travel while the road receives an asphalt overlay. This project requires a travel closure for weekday traffic only—weekend traffic will be allowed. The weekday travel restrictions will be in place from June 8 through June 26.

Other road construction projects are planned for upcoming months, and each will involve 15-minute delays in traffic. These projects include: Routine striping projects on all park roads during the month of May; an asphalt overlay on the road from Colter Bay to Leeks Marina during early July; an asphalt overlay on the road to the Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus during mid July; a chip seal project one mile north of Moose Junction to Cunningham Cabin along
Hwy 89/191 planned for late August to Labor Day weekend; and a chip seal project from the park’s south boundary to one mile north of the Moose Junction on Hwy 89/191 scheduled for after Labor Day through mid September. As always, roadwork schedules may change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, and schedule extra time for their travel through Grand Teton National Park during the next several months. As road improvement work is underway, every effort will be made to minimize inconvenience to drivers using park roads; however, traffic will be held up for short periods of time. These road construction projects are necessary to improve safety, as well as provide routine maintenance, for the many vehicles that use park roads throughout the year.

For current road construction information, travelers are advised to call the park’s information hotline at 307.739.3614. The park’s newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any entrance station or visitor center.