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Contact: Melissa Wilson, 406 888-7895
WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park announce that the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road), from the Loop to Siyeh Bend, will be closed to vehicular traffic for the season starting at 8 a.m. on November 1, 2006. This alpine section will be open to hiking and bicycling as weather and road conditions permit. This alpine closure allows park road maintenance crews to prepare the Sun Road for the winter. Superintendent Mick Holm noted, "Road crews must remove metal-backed log and concrete Jersey barrier guardrails at fifteen locations in this alpine section because they cannot withstand the impact forces of winter avalanches. The guardrails are removed with loaders and other equipment that require both lanes of the Sun Road. Crews will also remove signs, exhibits, and trash cans; install snow poles; and conduct final culvert/drain cleaning." Despite the alpine section’s closure, weather permitting, 39 miles of the Sun Road will remain open for vehicle use in the fall. This includes 23.5 miles from the West Glacier entrance to the Loop on the west side and 15.5 miles from St. Mary to Siyeh Bend on the east side. Should winter weather cause temporary closures of this alpine section prior to November 1, the park will work to reopen the road as soon as conditions permit. Visitors are encouraged to check current road conditions on the park’s Web site at: https://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm. Conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select "Glacier Park Tourist Information" from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report. For general information on Glacier National Park, please visit the park’s home Web page at https://www.nps.gov/glac/ or call 406-888-7800. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015