Logan Pass opens this week
Barring bad weather or other unexpected setbacks, Going-to-the-Sun Road is scheduled to open from both directions over Logan Pass on Friday, Glacier National Park officials announced Tuesday.
The road will open up to the pass from the west side by midday Thursday and it will open from the east side as well by midday Friday. The June 26 opening would be well ahead of last year's July 2 opening.
Park road crews have been assisted with road preparations over the last week by park trail crews and employees of HK Contractors Inc., the general contractor for long-term Sun Road reconstruction.
Snow and wet weather in recent days have delayed paving a section of road near the East Tunnel that was damaged during a November 2006 rainstorm.
"We had several inches of snow just over the last 24 hours," Glacier spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt on Tuesday afternoon.
"We had hoped that East Tunnel paving would be completed by now," Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright said. "Weather permitting, we will open the road across Logan Pass on Friday with or without the paving, but we want to provide the Federal Highway Administration and their contractor, HK Contractors, a final chance to complete this paving, if possible, by Friday when we swing the gates at Logan Pass and Jackson Glacier Overlook."
Glacier's summer season already is in full swing, with interpretive programs, concession services, campgrounds and other park facilities open for the season.
The last pieces are the opening of Logan Pass and the park's free Sun Road shuttle system, which is expected to be in operation by July 1.
"The National Park Service fully recognizes that there is a tremendous desire to have the entire Sun Road open for through visitor traffic, but I cannot stress enough just how much else there is to Glacier National Park when Logan Pass is not accessible by vehicle," Cartwright said.
Other popular areas in the park include the Many Glacier, Two Medicine and Lake McDonald valleys as well as the North Fork Valley on the park's western flank.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com