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Yellowstone National Park faces significant infrastructure challenges and maintenance needs, with its asset inventory valued at $6.3 billion. The inventory includes essential elements like roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems, maintained landscapes, heating and cooling plants, electrical systems, communication systems, fuel systems, a solid waste and recycling system, marinas, and amphitheaters. There is an estimated $54 million in annual routine maintenance requirements associated with the inventory, which is critical, as neglecting annual routine maintenance could accelerate deterioration of the portfolio.
The projects highlighted in this report, totaling $2.551 billion, have been identified as strategic priorities. These projects aim to address safety, regulatory compliance, and improve the visitor experience. However, these estimates are subject to change based on evolving priorities, final scope and design efforts, and available resources. The following figures show Yellowstone’s real property inventory by asset category as of January 2025:
Investing in infrastructure is vital to ensure Yellowstone's continued preservation and accessibility for both current and future visitors. There are many additional unfunded infrastructure needs not outlined in this report. Yellowstone is currently compiling a supplementary list of these projects that may be submitted for consideration through the Legacy Restoration Fund, if reauthorized.
Yellowstone Infrastructure Improvement Projects
View completed, ongoing, and approved infrastructure improvement projects in the park.
Some projects occur in multiple areas throughout the park and are not included on the map (learn more about these projects in the dropdowns below).
Completed Projects (2020-present)
Roads and Bridges
Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2021 Cost: $3 million Fund Source(s): Federal Lands Transportation Program Locations: Grant Village and Old Faithful Project Description: This project corrected deficiencies in three timber bridges at Grant and one concrete overpass at Old Faithful. Work replaced rotted deck timbers, railing, and pier stiffeners and repaired concrete abutments, approach slabs, and curbing.
Grant Bridge
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Old Faithful Bridge
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Start Date: 2022 End Date: 2022 Cost: $21 million Fund Source(s): Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Location: North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana Project Description: High water during the flood event destroyed the North Entrance Road in several places, which cut off access to Yellowstone via the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. The effort to design and construct this road on an accelerated timeline was a direct result of the partnerships between NPS, FHWA Western Federal Lands Highway Division, RockSol Consulting Group, and HK Contractors. The North Entrance Road opened to public travel on Oct. 30, 2022. The NPS is working closely with FHWA to evaluate a range of permanent road alignment alternatives and identify the most cost effective, resilient, and least environmentally impacting option.
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Start Date: 2022 End Date: 2023 Cost: $25 million Fund Source(s): Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Locations: Sections of Northeast Entrance Road between Lamar River Canyon and Warm Creek Project Description: High water during the 2022 flood event destroyed the Northeast Entrance Road in three places and threatened lane collapse in two additional places. Jacobs Engineering Group worked on design while Oftedal teams completed repairs. The team of FHWA, Jacobs Engineering Group, Oftedal Construction, and the NPS achieved an accelerated reopening date, and the road opened to public travel on Oct. 15, 2022. Yellowstone worked closely with the team members as additional efforts continued in the spring of 2023 to finalize road sections in Lamar River Canyon and near the Trout Lake Trailhead, and mile marker 27.4.
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Start Date: 2022 End Date: 2023 Cost: $48 million Fund Source(s): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Grand Loop Road between Biscuit Basin and Grant Village Project Description: This project rehabilitated 22 miles of the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb to preserve access to the most heavily traveled corridor of Yellowstone. Work included repaving the full 30-foot-wide roadway segment, sub-excavating to replace the entire road structure where frost heaving has caused considerable roadway damage, and repairing and replacing guardrails, culverts, and other drainage structures.
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Start Date: 2018 End Date: 2020 Cost: $42 million Fund Source(s): Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: East Entrance Road between Fishing Bridge and Indian Pond Project Description: This 3.5-mile-long project modernized the road to a 30-foot width and added turn lanes, parking improvements, and pullouts. The Fishing Bridge received a new deck and protection for the wooden piers from ice damage in 2019. A 1,500-foot viaduct replaced the 1902 earthen causeway over Pelican Creek to allow the estuary to flow unimpeded. Revegetation staff seeded approximately 60% of the project and planted several hundred nursery-grown plans in sensitive areas.
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Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2021 Cost: $28 million Fund Source(s): National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Location: Grand Loop Road between Tower-Roosevelt and Chittenden Road Project Description: This segment of road between Tower-Roosevelt and Chittenden Road remained largely unchanged since the last improvements in the 1930's. The project reconstructed the 6.1-mile road and added pullouts and parking areas, improved the Buffalo Paddock picnic area, more than doubled the capacity of the Tower Falls Store parking area, reconditioned the 1.4-mile Chittenden Road, and reconstructed the Mount Washburn parking lot.
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Utility Systems
Start Date: 2018 End Date: 2021 Cost: $3 million Fund Source(s): Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Canyon Village Project Description: This project replaced three lagoon liners at the Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant. The liners from all three ponds were 25 years old and showed substantial degradation. The sludge-holding pond contained a substantial buildup of sludge, which significantly curtailed the usable storage volume of the pond and led to multiple overflows.
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Start Date: 2023 End Date: 2023 Cost: $4 million Fund Source(s): Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Madison Junction Project Description: A water test showed the possibility of surface water influence. The Environmental Protection Agency issued a letter changing the water system’s designation. As a result, the project replaced the spring-fed water system.
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Facilities and Developed Areas
Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2022 Cost: $6 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Line Item Construction, Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Bechler Project Description: This project replaced an outdated ranger station and employee housing, rehabilitated the road, constructed a new parking area, and installed new utilities and a solar panel array in partnership with Northwestern Energy.
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Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2023 Cost: $39 million Fund Source(s): Line Item Construction, Repair/Rehabilitation Locations: Bechler, Lake Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana Project Description: This project replaced 65 obsolete trailers with new modular homes. The trailers located throughout the park were 40-60 years old and in substandard condition. The project upgraded utilities and incorporated landscape designs to develop a sense of community. Using modular versus on-site construction has saved the park an estimated $36 million and six years from the original housing improvement plan proposal.
Start Date: 2019 End Date: 2022 Cost: $13.8 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Repair/Rehabilitation Locations: Parkwide Project Description: This project renovated 150 non-historic housing units across the park at an average of $92k per unit. New improvements targeted housing interiors, such as wood stoves, appliances, cabinets, flooring, plumbing fixtures, and painting.
Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2021 Cost: $1 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Mammoth Hot Springs Project Description: This project painted the building’s exterior, added entry portico roofs, performed seismic retrofits, and replaced outdated electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire alarm, fire suppression, environmental control, and security systems. The exterior repairs will prevent water intrusion, increase energy efficiency, and enhance security.
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Start Date: 2020 End Date: 2021 Cost: $12 million Fund Source(s): Federal Lands Transportation Program, Philanthropic Donations Location: North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana Project Description: This project addressed increased visitation by expanding visitor entrance capacity and updating the entrance stations. The project included three new entrance kiosk buildings, improving approximately 2 miles of roadway, provided an additional queuing lane for visitors entering the park, updated utilities, and improved parking for concession operations.
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Start Date: 2021 End Date: 2021 Cost: $80,000 Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Peale Island in southern area of Yellowstone Lake Project Description: This project designed and installed a crib wall on the eroding north shore of Peale Island. Over 42 tons of building material was flown to the island and used in the construction of the wall. The park saved an estimated $140,000 from its original proposal to relocate the cabin.
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Ongoing Projects
Roads and Bridges
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $2.7 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Bridge Bay area Project Description: This project includes repairing erosion and undermining at the north abutment, sealing cracks, and replacing unsound concrete on the deck, sidewalks, and wingwalls. Expansion joints will be cleaned and resealed, bearings reset, and structural steel repainted. The deck surface will be milled and overlaid, and approach pavement repaved. Safety upgrades include installing or updating guardrails, transitions, and terminal ends. Railing and bearings will also be repaired as needed.
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $1.2 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Midway Geyser Basin, between Madison and Old Faithful Project Description: This project includes replacing the deck and select deteriorated stringers, cleaning and painting structural steel, and repairing scour and undermining at the north abutment. Shims will be installed at exterior stringers for better support. Stone masonry retaining walls at the north approach will be repaired, and missing stones on the west side of the south approach will be replaced. Additionally, rock-lined drainage structures will be installed to redirect water away from the roadway.
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $200,000 Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Grand Loop Road, Madison area Project Description: This project includes realigning and reattaching sections of the west-side railing with new connection bolts, as well as cleaning and painting the entire railing system. These bridge preservation efforts help prevent premature deterioration and extend the bridge’s service life. Reattaching the railing also enhances safety by preventing vehicles from accidentally leaving the roadway or bridge.
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $420,000 Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Old Faithful area Project Description: This project includes installing a new drainage structure on the southwest side of the overpass and improving or replacing the existing drainage system on the southeast side. The current drainage is ineffective, causing severe erosion along the adjacent slopes. Upgrading these systems will better manage water flow, protect the interchange, and prevent further erosion.
Start Date: 2022 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $37 million Fund Source(s): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: South Entrance Road near Lewis Falls Project Description: This project is replacing a structurally deficient bridge along the heavily used South Entrance Road in Yellowstone. The project will improve visitor safety and include accessible parking and a viewing area of Lewis Falls. The bridge replacement will occur downstream from the current bridge to maintain visitor access during construction and provide better parking and visitor use.
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Construction Progress:
Start Date: 2022 End Date (estimated): 2026 Cost (estimated): $134 million Fund Source(s): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Northeast Entrance Road near Tower Junction Project Description: This project is replacing the 1963 Yellowstone River Bridge near Tower Junction as well as relocating the junction and modernizing 3.5 miles of roadway, pullouts, and ancillary facilities. Over a dozen options were considered, and park management chose to build the new bridge upstream of the existing bridge on a brand-new alignment. The existing bridge is approximately 604 feet long and 70 feet high. The new bridge will be 1,175 feet long and 162 feet high. Other project highlights include construction of the new Yellowstone River Overlook Trailhead Parking Area and expansion of the Yellowstone River Picnic Area
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Construction Progress:
Utility Systems
Start Date: 2022 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $43 million Fund Source(s): Disaster Relief Supplemental, Line Item Construction Location: Mammoth Hot Springs Project Description: The sewer line adjacent to the road that carried wastewater from Mammoth Hot Springs to a sewage treatment plant in Gardiner, Montana, was destroyed in the 2022 flood event. Staff quickly rerouted the wastewater into percolation ponds used between the 1930's and 1960's, allowing for summer day-use visitors and some residents to stay in the area. A new, temporary wastewater treatment system is in place to serve the Mammoth area.
Construction Progress:
Start Date: 2022 End Date (estimated): 2025 Cost (estimated): $3 million Fund Source(s): Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Tower Junction Project Description: This project rehabilitates the water source and treatment infrastructure. Work includes rehabilitation of an existing pumphouse, replacement of 430 feet of pipe, two pumps, and the addition of filtration and telemetry. Also, the existing septic tank and perforated pipe will be replaced and more tank storage capacity will be added.
Current Condition:
Facilities and Developed Areas
Start Date: 2022 End Date (estimated): 2030 Cost (estimated): $59 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Repair/Rehabilitation, To Be Determined Locations: Parkwide Project Description: After successfully completing the renovation of 150 non-historic units, the park set a new challenge goal to renovate all remaining units. As of now, 67 units are complete, 30 are in progress, and 151 remain. A total of $6.2 million has been spent so far. Project planning is underway for exterior upgrades, including lead paint mitigation, new siding, improved insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, and roof replacements. To achieve this goal, an additional federal investment of $53 million is needed over the coming years.
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2029 Cost (estimated): $63 million Fund Source(s): Philanthropic Donations, Disaster Relief Supplemental Locations: Parkwide Project Description: In March of 2024, Yellowstone National Park secured a private donation to build new modular employee housing in multiple locations across the park. The 50-million-dollar donation will allow for 70 new employee housing units, garages, and associated infrastructure.
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2028 Cost (estimated): $21 million Fund Source(s): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Mammoth Hot Springs Project Description: As part of Yellowstone’s Housing Improvement Project Goal 3, this project will stabilize and rehabilitate the exteriors of six buildings located within the Historic Fort Yellowstone and one building located in Lower Mammoth. The buildings are currently used for employee housing. The project will include rehabilitation of the building envelopes, structural repairs, roof repairs, window and door rehabilitation, painting, and hazardous material mitigation.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $23 million Fund Source(s): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Old Faithful area Project Description: As part of Yellowstone’s Housing Improvement Project Goal 3, this project will preserve and stabilize the Historic Laurel Dormitory and repurpose the building from concession dormitory to NPS employee housing. This structure is part of the Old Faithful Historic District, designed in 1922 by Robert Reamer, who designed the famous Old Faithful Inn. The project will rehabilitate the building envelope, including structural repairs, seismic stabilization, new roof, window repair, life safety improvements, and hazardous material mitigation. Interior redesign will provide approximately 20 safe and efficient employee apartments with updated mechanical and electrical systems.
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Approved Projects
Roads and Bridges
Start Date (estimated): To Be Determined End Date (estimated): To Be Determined Cost (estimated): $1.5 million Fund Source(s): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Grand Loop Road, south of Old Faithful developed area Project Description: This project includes cleaning and resealing expansion joints, milling and overlaying the deck surface, and removing unsound concrete from sidewalks and abutment backwalls. Additional riprap and scour protection will be placed along the channel banks and west abutment slope. Steel railings will be cleaned and painted, and approach pavement will be milled, repaved, and striped. Other work includes sealing concrete surfaces, clearing debris, installing object markers, and repairing a utility on the north sidewalk.
Start Date (estimated): 2028 End Date (estimated): 2030 Cost (estimated): $23 million Fund Source(s): To be determined Location: Northeast Entrance Road near Mammoth Hot Springs Project Description: Measures to extend the service life of this 1939 steel truss bridge include replacement of expansion joints, deep-patch replacement of the approach spans; repairs to the steel truss structure, concrete elements, railings, and catwalk; painting; and the addition of concrete guard walls.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2028 End Date (estimated): 2030 Cost (estimated): $42 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Federal Lands Transportation Program, to be determined Location: West Entrance Road Project Description: This project is replacing a structurally deficient bridge along the West Entrance Road. The bridge replacement will occur downstream from the current bridge to maintain visitor, employee, and support access to the park’s busiest road during construction.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $43 million Fund Source(s): National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Grand Loop Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Swan Lake Flat Project Description: Pending the approval of federal funds through the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects and Federal Lands Transportation Program, the third phase of the Norris to Golden Gate project will include complete reconstruction of the roadway, parking areas, slopes, and drainage improvement; new Bunsen Peak parking area; addition of a new accessible walkway and bridge connecting Bunsen Peak parking area with the pedestrian viewing area at the brink of Rustic Falls; and reconstruction of the historic stone masonry guard wall through Golden Gate Canyon.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2027 End Date (estimated): 2030 Cost (estimated): $371 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Disaster Relief Supplemental Location: North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana Project Description: Currently, there are three alternatives for the New North Entrance Road:
The canyon alignment would follow the original road and rebuild in Gardner Canyon.
The OGR alignment would improve upon the North Entrance Road Emergency Improvements project.
The center alignment would connect sections of the old and new road alignments with a road segment outside Gardner Canyon. This project will occur in tandem with the Mammoth Wastewater Main Replacement project.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2029 End Date (estimated): 2032 Cost (estimated): $268 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Disaster Relief Supplemental Location: Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Northeast Entrance in Silver Gate/Cooke City, Montana Project Description: This road segment between Tower-Roosevelt and the Northeast Entrance remains largely unchanged since its construction in the 1930's. This 11-mile-long project will reconstruct the road base, widen to 30 feet, add additional pullouts and scenic viewpoints, and realign roads impacted by the 2022 flood event. The Pebble Creek Campground will be rehabilitated, and six bridges along Soda Butte Creek will be replaced. The Northeast Entrance Station will also be improved for oversized vehicles.
Pebble Creek Campground
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Start Date (estimated): 2026 End Date (estimated): 2026 Cost (estimated): $2 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: Northeast Entrance Road Project Description: This project includes replacing curbs, resetting bridge railing posts, and milling and repaving the approaches. The deck and curbs will be cleaned, sealed, and cleared of debris, while deck joints will be resealed, and the compression seal replaced. Erosion repairs and scour countermeasures will protect the slope embankment, and trees growing under and against the bridge will be removed. Cracks in beams, the deck underside, and the abutment breastwall will be sealed as needed, and unsound concrete on the abutment backwalls will be replaced. Finally, the bridge rail will be cleaned and repainted, and Type 3 object markers will be replaced.
Start Date (estimated): 2026 End Date (estimated): 2026 Cost (estimated): $2 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Cyclic Maintenance Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program Location: South Entrance Road, just south of Grant Village Project Description: This project includes replacing curbs, resetting bridge railing posts, and milling and repaving the approaches. Erosion trenches and the south abutment footing will be repaired with scour protection. The deck and curbs will be cleaned, sealed, and cleared of debris, while unsound concrete on the south abutment backwall and bearing seat will be replaced. Cracks in beams, the deck underside, and the abutment will be sealed. The bridge railing will be cleaned, repainted, and existing object markers replaced. Fallen trees will also be removed from the channel and banks.
Utility Systems
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $53 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Disaster Relief Supplemental Location: Canyon Village Project Description: This project will address deficiencies that have become worse due to the 2022 flood event. Work includes the construction of a headworks, a secondary treatment system, a solids treatment train, operation and maintenance facilities, testing laboratory, an upgrade of the supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), the installation of an intra-plant pump station, installation of backup power generators, and related system components.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2028 Cost (estimated): $53 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Locations: Grant Village and Canyon Village Project Description: The project will include the replacement of headworks, process tanks, sludge handling, and advanced wastewater treatment processes; rehabilitation or replacement of wastewater collection systems; replacement of pumps, motors, blowers, tanks, piping, controls, and buildings that house treatment processes; improvement to lift stations and controls; replacement of back-up generators and controls; replacement of lift station and back-up generation enclosures; and installation of collection and treatment process telemetry.
Grant Wastewater Plant
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Canyon Wastewater Collection System
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Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2026 Cost (estimated): $2 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Repair/Rehabilitation Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley Project Description: This project will improve the efficiency and capacity of the Lamar Buffalo Ranch photovoltaic system. The location is off-grid and needs a more reliable source of renewable energy. The current solar panels and outdated battery bank are not functioning to their full capacity and require constant maintenance.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $8.4 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Mammoth Hot Springs Project Description: This project will rehabilitate the deteriorated sewer system that collects and conveys wastewater from Mammoth Hot Springs to the wastewater treatment plant in Gardiner, Montana. Repairs will reduce groundwater infiltration, reduce arsenic levels in the sludge, and limit sewer line deterioration.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2027 End Date (estimated): 2030 Cost (estimated): $10 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Disaster Relief Supplemental Location: North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana Project Description: This project will rehabilitate the 5.1-mile sewer main that collects and conveys wastewater from Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, to the wastewater treatment plant in Gardiner, Montana. Significant sections of the main were destroyed in the 2022 flood event. This project will occur in tandem with the North Entrance Road project.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $34 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Old Faithful Project Description: This project will rehabilitate the wastewater treatment plant, two sewer lift stations, deteriorated sewer collection and lateral lines, and manholes. It will also upgrade the telemetry and supervisory control and data acquisition and automated systems. Lastly, it will replace deteriorated electrical and mechanical components including all pumps and controls and upgrade the septage receiving system to a larger capacity system including tank, bar screen, and aeration system.
Current Condition:
Start Date (estimated): 2025 End Date (estimated): 2027 Cost (estimated): $20 million Fund Source(s) (tentative): Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund Location: Old Faithful area Project Description: This project will construct a new addition to the existing treatment building to house an arsenic removal system, which will include chemical storage tanks, chemical feed pumps, mixers, valves, piping, instrumentation, controls, and settling basins. This project will also demolish the abandoned wastewater treatment plant, which was replaced by a new facility in 2001. With failing concrete structures, catwalks, and other abandoned equipment the site is a safety hazard for employees and residents, as well as an eyesore in the Old Faithful government area.
Old Faithful Water Plant
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Abandoned Old Faithful Wastewater Plant
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