News Release
Zachary Whitlow/NPS Photo
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Contact: Zachary Whitlow, (505) 672-3861 ext. 1512
Los Alamos, NM – Bandelier National Monument will temporarily close its Tsankawi Unit in mid-March 2023 due to extensive construction work. It is expected to reopen in late-October 2023. The final closure date will be posted on the park’s website once the construction schedule is finalized.As part of the larger interagency project to improve traffic flow and safety at the junction of New Mexico State Road 4 and East Jemez Road outside of White Rock, Bandelier will construct a new parking area and access road that will align with the traffic light at the intersection. “This project will address safety concerns for visitors accessing the Tsankawi Unit,” said Superintendent Patrick Suddath, “When the project is complete, visitors will no longer have to park along the highway shoulder or cross moving traffic when entering or exiting the site.”
Construction activities will impact all existing parking for Tsankawi. There will be no safe parking or access points for the visiting public as a result. “We will use the opportunity of this closure to re-route the Tsankawi Loop Trail around the ancestral pueblo site, and to mitigate the many social trails and other impacts to the area that have been years in the making,” said Superintendent Suddath. “This site is very important to our tribal partners, and so it is vital that we fully honor our commitment to address impacts to the site during this time.”
Entering Tsankawi by any means will be prohibited during this closure, except for personnel performing official duties related to the various construction projects. Violators of the closure will be subject to citation or arrest. The site will remain closed until all construction projects are completed or until visitors are able to safely access and travel within the area while construction and trail work continues.
Last updated: March 2, 2024