Public Invited to Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation Stakeholder Meetings

Date: June 9, 2006
Contact: Dave Dahlen, 406-888-7930

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Managers at Glacier National Park invite the public to informational stakeholder meetings for the Going-to-the-Sun (Sun) Road rehabilitation & mitigation on Wednesday, June 21 at the West Glacier Community Building and on Thursday, June 22 at the St. Mary Visitor Center. Both sessions will last from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Public comments will also be accepted at the meetings.

Glacier National Park continues to works towards implementation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation and mitigation in 2007. The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in partnership, are moving ahead with design, development and construction planning for major construction and mitigation improvements to begin in 2007.

This year’s one-year contract will complete the emergency wall repairs that began in 1999. The first alpine segment to undergo comprehensive rehabilitation (West Tunnel to Haystack Creek) is slated to begin in 2007. At these meetings, park officials will share progress reports as the park continues to prepare for the 2007 season when the entire 50-mile Sun Road rehabilitation is scheduled to begin.

“Park and FHWA managers remain committed to completing the multi-year rehabilitation corresponding project mitigation in a manner that sustains park visitation while enhancing the visitor experience when and wherever possible,” said Mick Holm, park superintendent.

Holm noted that Glacier’s targeted spring 2007 start for alpine Sun Road rehabilitation and mitigation is based on the NPS’ endorsement for the park’s overall proposed scope and timeline for visitor improvement mitigation as identified in the 1999 Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision. These improvements include the addition of a Sun Road shuttle system and support services, additional interpretive and visitor orientation services, expanded public information and state-of-the-art transportation communications technology.

At the meetings, updates will be provided about the current 2006 one-year critical stone wall repairs which will finish the emergency wall repairs on the alpine section that were begun in 1999. There will also be updates and projections for 2007 alpine road rehabilitation as well as the status of preparations for a Sun Road shuttle system and transit support facility to be operational in 2007. Updates will also be provided on compliance and communications planning for the project.

For planning purposes, anyone wishing to attend either meeting is asked to RSVP no later than Friday, June 16 by calling 406-888-7972. Those wishing to attend may also e-mail their name, affiliation, phone, and date of attendance to the following email address: [e-mail]

Written comments may also be submitted by e-mail to [e-mail] ATTN: Transit / ITS, or by mail to Glacier National Park, ATTN: Transit / ITS, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936.