May 24, 2010 Zion-Mt Carmel Highway (Tunnel Road) CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE:
The road will be graded gravel in the work sections and the surface may be uneven at times. Please use caution and low speeds in these areas. Due to safety concerns, bicycles will not be allowed on the roadway for the duration of the project. Bicyclists wishing to travel between the Canyon Junction and the East Entrance will need to arrange for a private vehicle to take them all the way through those two locations. Alternate routes of travel between Zion Canyon and U.S Highway 89 are Utah State Route 59 from Hurricane, Utah to Arizona State Route 389 (better for large vehicles) or Utah State Route 14 from Cedar City, Utah to Long Valley Junction (high elevation/steep grades). During the construction period, travelers may want to consider using one of these roads between Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon or Grand Canyon National Parks Monday through Friday 9:00am-4:00pm. The road project will be administered by the Federal Highways Administration. The contractor for the project is A-T Asphalt Paving of St. George, UT. The cost of the project is approximately 6 million dollars and is being funded from a combination of Federal Highways Administration and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies. When the road is completed, it will be the color of typical asphalt. In the near future, it will be chip sealed and regain the red color for which it is famous. All parties involved in the project worked together to come up with the best work schedule possible, given the size and complexity of the project. The concerns of local residents, businesses, and travelers, as well as safety and the impact on park operations were considered. This construction schedule offers the least amount of confusion, less disruption to visitor travel, a safer experience for travelers and workers, and allows the work to be completed in a shorter time period. With this option, vehicle backups into Springdale associated with construction delays are mitigated and traffic will run normally in the town during work times. Tunnel escort hours have been extended in the morning to allow more opportunity for travelers with large vehicles to pass through the park. People visiting Zion Canyon via the park’s South Entrance at Springdale, Utah, who are camping, accessing the shuttle system, staying at the Zion Lodge or in the town of Springdale will not be in the construction zone. Visitors in Zion Canyon are encouraged to use the free town shuttle to avoid possible delays entering the park. Look for blue Park and Ride signs in Springdale and ride the free shuttle to the park entrance. For updated information, Call 435-772-3256 (press 1, then 4) or continue to visit this website regularly. |
Last updated: August 21, 2021