East, west plowing crews meet at Big Drift

Glacier National Park plow crews have been chipping away at the Big Drift, the last major obstacle to clearing Going-to-the-Sun Road for summer business.

The drift, which is usually more than 30 feet deep, is just east of Logan Pass. 

On Tuesday, the west- and east-side plow crews met at the drift and have been working on it from both ends this week. 

Efforts also are underway to clear the Logan Pass Visitor Center parking lot and install removable guard rails along the road.

Although significant plowing progress is being made, the earliest the entire 50-mile road over Logan Pass can be opened to vehicle traffic is June 21. That date is established by a road-rehabilitation contract that allows both lanes of the road to be closed in construction zones.

Until then, visitors have hiker-biker access beyond vehicle closures, with some restrictions for construction. 

Hikers and bikers cannot travel past the gate at Avalanche Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., but after that there are no restrictions.

It’s expected that as of today, visitors can hike or bike to the Alps section on the west side of Sun Road, about 11.5 miles beyond Avalanche.

On the east side, hikers and bikers can travel to Siyeh Bend while construction is underway Tuesday through Friday. There will be no restrictions on the east side this weekend.