West-side road limits start Monday in Glacier

The last chance to reach Logan Pass from the west side of Glacier National Park is this weekend, with a vehicle closure starting at Avalanche Campground at midnight Sunday.

The closure will clear the way for accelerated construction work on Going-to-the-Sun Road between Logan Creek and the West Tunnel and between Big Bend and Logan Pass.

Hiker and bicyclist access will be allowed beyond the Avalanche barricade depending on road construction.

Logan Pass will remain accessible from the east side of the park until Oct. 18.

A comprehensive reconstruction plan for Sun Road that was approved in 2003 allowed for “shared use” of the road with short delays and two-way traffic during summer.

But it also provided for accelerated construction requiring two-lane closures during the shoulder seasons, with the condition that the pass would be accessible from either the east or west sides of the park.

The fall season is “the primary opportunity for Sun Road contractors to make progress on the rehabilitation,” Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright stressed in a press release.

“Autumn visitors to Glacier National Park are rewarded with a lack of crowds, cooler temperatures and changing vegetation colors,” he said. “Area residents and visitors are also reminded that Glacier National Park is open year-round and many park recreational opportunities exist during all seasons.”