Under the Federal Highways Program, repairs and road rehabilitation are taking place along a five-mile stretch of Keys View Road—from Cap Rock to the Keys View overlook. Beginning Sunday, August 12, the temporary closures along the road will be changed to improve visitor safety and facilitate the road construction process. Keys View Road will be closed each week from 10 p.m. Sunday until 6 p.m. the following Friday. The Keys View Road will be open for public use at the following times: Fridays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, the Keys View Road will remain open to the public on Labor Day, September 3rd, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Cap Rock Nature Trail, picnic area, and public parking at Cap Rock will remain fully open. These public-use restrictions will remain in effect through September 30, 2007.

In addition, from August 13 to August 27, construction of a low-water road crossing will occur along Park Boulevard between Hidden Valley and the Cap Rock area. The road will remain open to visitor traffic during the repairs, but visitors may experience delays of up to 30 minutes while construction is taking place. Visitors are urged to obey all posted speed limits in construction zones and to follow all instructions from traffic control personnel.

The purpose of the construction activities is to rehabilitate aging park roads and eliminate unsafe road conditions. Highway repairs will also protect native park vegetation by preventing illegal off-road driving and reducing soil compaction from social trails. The repairs will improve drainage along park roadways to control erosion and flash-flooding. Visitors will also enjoy wider, paved roadways with one-foot paved shoulders. Parking areas are being improved and new roadside curbing will better preserve native Joshua trees and desert wildlife habitat. For further information about park road construction projects, please call 760-367-5683.