Date: May 15, 2008
Contact: Al Nash, 307-344-2015
Contact: Stacy Vallie, 307-344-2015
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008 08-032
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2015
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED TO REOPEN ROAD SOUTH OF CANYON
Image of Road Work
Park maintenance crews continue to work on a section of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road south of Canyon Junction which gave way Monday afternoon.
The collapse broke a water line which runs beneath the road, further undermining the already failing roadbed. No one was traveling over the section of the road when it sank.
This section of the Grand Loop Road, between the turnoff to the Brink of the Upper Falls and the South Rim Drive, has been an ongoing problem. The unstable clay soil mixture beneath the roadbed has repeatedly shifted and slumped, resulting in a rough, uneven stretch of road.
Because of the road damage, a 2½ mile section of the Grand Loop Road remains temporarily closed from the exit of North Rim Drive to Alum Creek, at the north end of Hayden Valley. Visitors can still travel to Canyon by way of Norris Junction.
The park had hoped to be able to reopen the road to travel Thursday morning. However, a survey of the damage revealed a broken sewer line and a partially clogged drain culvert, requiring more extensive repairs.
Park maintenance crews have excavated an area 2 lanes wide, 75 feet long and about 10 feet deep in order to make the necessary repairs.
Crews have replaced the broken section of the water main, and are now repairing the sewer line. After also clearing the culvert, they’ll fill the hole with gravel to aid drainage and then apply a temporary asphalt patch over the area.
The Federal Highway Administration and HK Contractors, Inc., of Idaho Falls are assisting with the repair effort. They’re in the park working on a road project along the Canyon rims.
Barring any additional unforeseen problems, park crews expect to complete repairs and reopen the road to travel sometime Friday.
Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling (307) 344-2117.
– www.nps.gov/yell –
Producers/Editors note:
Publication quality images of the repair efforts are available on request.
