National park closure/delays/road construction thread.

[Southwest Dave]

With the National parks being so popular this time of year, and many of them only having a short season to repair the roads, you can always visit the NPS website and find the park[s] you are visiting for up to date info on conditions.

This summer there is quite a big construction program in Yellowstone.

Expect delays on the Mount Carmel highway between Zion and Bryce with day time closures and long diversions.

The Wawona Rd [41] to the Southern entrance of Yosemite has delays of up to 30 -60 mins.

In the Grand Tetons there are a few projects and you can expect up to 30 min delays on Teton park Rd near to Jenny lake.

Large vehicle [RV] alert. The Generals highway in Seqouia NP has expected delays of up to 1 hour and a new 22ft lenght restriction for the time being !!

Trail ridge Rd in RMNP is being worked on and could have combined delays along it's lenght of up to 1 hour.

Keep up to date with the goings on at the Grand canyon.

All links will update automatically so info may differ to that I posted today.

Anyone who has recently visited a park and can report any updates, please do !

[Mark Sedenquist]

Dave,

This is a good idea! -- Too bad we didn't think of this back in the Spring...

Mark

[glc]

With fall fast approaching, the Sun Road in Glacier will be restricting travel starting September 19. It's in the middle of a multi-year rehab project.

[Southwest Dave]

Mark] Too bad we didn't think of this back in the Spring...

Better late than never !

It could come in handy for when we get into the Fall and Winter seasons for temporary and permanant closures due to weather conditions.

[AMiniAndAMap]

Two updates from my recent cross-country road trip:

1. There is significant construction on Route 9 in Utah going through Zion NP -- a long stretch of the route inside the park is reduced to a dirt road with some pretty hefty bumps/potholes. Allow extra time for driving through there.

2. The major construction in Yellowstone is on route 89, or "Grand Loop Road," between West Entrance Road and Norris Canyon Road. There is a 3-mile stretch that's down to 1-lane, and getting through there going either direction will involve at least 30-minute delays. Also, that stretch of road closes from 10 pm - 8 am daily.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I knew about Yellowstone -- but hadn't heard about the Route 9 issue in Zion. (oops, it's in SW Dave's post... above).

So, thanks for this!

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Construction on the 'Going to the sun' road is now well underway, and the section between Avalanche and Logan is closed to traffic. You can drive part of the road [15.5 miles from the West Entrance to Avalanche, and 18.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Logan Pass] but not across it's entire lenght.

Keep up to date here.

[Southwest Dave]

The Yosemite NP team are advising you call ahead if you're travelling over the Sierra's via Tioga pass today, as there has been a closure from mixed reports of snow and rockfall.

At this time of year it is not unusual for the pass to close, and then re-open periodically before it closes permanently for the season. For the most up to date info click here.

At the time of posting Sonora pass [SR108] just North of Yosemite is also closed East of Strawberry, visit Caltrans for the latest updates here.

[Mass Tim]

I mentioned it in this post, but this is a better spot for specific details - Skyline Drive received ARRA funds and they are currently working on several of the scenic overlooks (which are closed during the construction) as well as paving some sections of the road.

[Southwest Dave]

Rocky mountain NP

Trail ridge Rd is currently closed at the "Many park curves" section at the East end and the "Colorado river Trail head" to the West, it is unknown at this point whether it will re-open again this Fall.

"Old fall river Rd" is closed for the season.

Get the latest here.

Yellowstone.

The "Beartooth highway" is closed for the season from Red Lodge to the Northeast entance.