NPS/Big Bend National Park

Work continues along the River Road East.

Date: February 15, 2008
Contact: David Elkowitz, 432 477-1108

A National Guard unit consisting of 12 people is continuing their 60 day commitment in Big Bend National Park towards repairing several badly eroded sections of backcountry dirt road along River Road East. The road repairs are part of a cooperative effort between the Park, the National Guard, and the U.S. Border Patrol. Repairs began the week of January 7th and will continue until early March.

Road repair is benefiting both the U.S. Border Patrol and the park’s visitors by allowing easier access and travel on River Road along badly eroded road sections which have caused frequent closures during the past year.

No new road construction has occurred as a result of the cooperative agreement. The work is being completed to National Park Service standards for backcountry road maintenance and with park oversight. The road work is greatly assisting the park in its long-term maintenance of this backcountry access route by restoring the road to a baseline condition that is maintainable.

Park Superintendent Bill Wellman said, "We are pleased for the assistance and the partnership efforts of the National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol to restore and maintain several difficult sections of dirt road after record rainfall eroded these segments in recent years. The work has proceeded well with significant improvements to the road’s condition already underway."