Park officials will close Sun Road on Nov. 1

Glacier National Park officials have decided to close the alpine section of Going-to-the-Sun Road for the winter starting Nov. 1.

West-side access to the upper portion of the road recently has been closed due to snow and hazardous driving conditions. However, that stretch could reopen if conditions permit until the seasonal closure that takes effect at 8 a.m. Nov. 1.

The closure is timed to allow park road maintenance crews time to remove guardrails, signs and trash cans and make other preparations for the winter.

"Road crews must remove metal-backed log and concrete Jersey barrier guardrails at 15 locations in this alpine section because they cannot withstand the impact forces of winter avalanches," said Superintendent Mick Holm. "The guardrails are removed with loaders and other equipment that require both lanes of the Sun Road."

Travel across the entire length of the 50-mile historic highway has been limited for several weeks due to a construction project east of Logan Pass that has required a two-lane closure. Because of that closure, the road is open when conditions permit from the west entrance to Logan Pass, and from the east entrance at St. Mary to Siyeh Bend.