West-side opening drawing closer

The Daily Inter Lake

Snow-removal operations on Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road are nearing completion, but the alpine section of road west of Logan Pass remains closed to vehicles.

"While we are nearing completion of snow removal in the alpine section, we still have much labor-intensive work ahead of us before we can plan to open to Logan Pass from the west side," said Glacier Superintendent Mick Holm on Friday.

Holm said there is considerable debris cleanup work, plus recent erosion to a section of road shoulder at Oberlin Bend must be repaired.

"Last week's rain further complicated our work," Holm said. "It caused a significant washout and retaining wall damage occurred at Rimrock which must be repaired or stabilized prior to opening from the west side."

Guard rails and signs also must be installed, potholes must be repaired, culverts must be cleared and there will be general cleanup to prepare the west side of the road for an opening.

The installation of avalanche-resistant guardrails at Haystack and Triple Arches, for example, takes about three days to complete.

Sun Road east of Logan Pass will remain closed throughout June because of extensive storm repairs that are under way just below the East Tunnel.

That work is expected to be finished for a July 1 east-side opening.

Despite the alpine section's closure, park visitors can still drive 15.5 miles from the west entrance to Avalanche and 13.5 miles from the east entrance at St. Mary to Jackson Glacier Overlook.

This weekend, hikers and bikers can travel as far as their legs will carry them beyond the gate at Avalanche. Because of construction work on the east side, hikers and bikers cannot travel beyond Jackson Glacier Overlook.

All other park roads are open for vehicle travel, including the Camas Road, Many Glacier Road, Two Medicine Road and Cut Bank Road.

The Inside North Fork Road is closed between Logging Creek and Fish Creek.