News Release

Moose-Wilson Road to Close Wednesday Night for Grading Operations: Northern Section Closes for Season October 22 and Entire Road Closes October 31

Date: October 12, 2018
Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393

The unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park will be temporarily closed for road grading beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 17 and will reopen by 6 a.m. Thursday, October 18. If the road maintenance work is not completed during this one night, the road will also be closed the following night during the same timeframe. Grading will improve the road surface and provide a better and safer experience for motorists and cyclists.

This is the last of three scheduled road grading operations. These night grading operations are in addition to dust abatement treatments, which took place in early June, late July, and early September. The additional grading is necessary between the dust abatement applications to maintain the road surface in better and safer condition, in light of increased daily traffic

During the overnight closure, park visitors should plan to use an alternate route as this temporary closure will prevent making a ‘through trip’ on the Moose-Wilson Road. The closure will extend from the Granite Canyon Entrance Station to a gate south of the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center. Electronic signs will be placed on Wyoming Highway 390 and near Moose to alert park visitors and local residents of the scheduled road closure.

The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center has closed for the season, but area trails remain open. For those wishing to reach the Preserve area or Death Canyon trailhead, access will be possible by heading south from the Teton Park Road Junction near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.

The grading operations and dust abatement treatments will continue until the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road is reconstructed and paved, as determined in the Moose-Wilson Corridor Comprehensive Management Plan Record of Decision. The park is working in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration to create a preliminary design for the unpaved section, as well as other improvements to the road. Initial work related to paving is anticipated to begin in late fall 2019.  

On Monday, October 22, the northern portion of the Moose-Wilson Road, between the Murie Ranch Junction and Death Canyon Junction, will close for the season due to construction of roadside pullouts. October 31 will be the final day the road is open to vehicle traffic for the season. Beginning November 1, walking and biking are allowed on the road until the status changes to over-snow access.

Roadwork schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.