The busy summer season is rolling right along and construction is continuing as expected. The project remains on track to be completed this summer. Please note that the Polychrome area is still an active construction site and the bridge is not yet open to pedestrians or bicyclists—it is expected to open in late summer, but no date is set at this time.
In the past week, contractors completed the timber facing for the retaining wall on the east side of the bridge and painted the friction coating on the bridge deck. Rock scaling is scheduled to begin next week and will help reduce the rockfall risk on slopes above the road in the Polychrome area.
At the Bear Cave landslide, progress is underway on re-routing the road away from the slide. The cut for the new alignment is complete and the new road has been established.
The completed retaining wall on the east end of the bridge.NPS Photo / J. Hubbard
The new road alignment at Bear Cave.NPS Photo / J. Hubbard