Going-to-the-Sun Road construction moves to nighttime only schedule

Construction work on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is now only during night and early morning hours to avoid summer traffic.

Glacier’s Public Information Officer Gina Icenoggle said construction on the west side of the road will take place from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., when the road opens for visitors with reservations.

Visitors will still be able to drive the road during that time frame but should be prepared for delays.

“Where it becomes tricky is when people are trying to get in before 6 a.m., before the reservation period, so that's where we see some congestion,” Icenoggle said.

She said crews will potentially switch back to working during the daytime in the fall, though their schedule is weather dependent and also might change in order to get the project finished by the end of the season. Icenoggle said paving is planned for September.

According to a release from the Federal Highways Administration, which oversees all road construction projects in the park, visitors should prepare for 30-minute delays. Over the past couple of weeks, crews have been excavating trench material and milling as part of a larger rehabilitation project for the scenic mountain road.

Work continues on the North McDonald Bridge project as well. A temporary bridge has been installed and test piles for an abutment have been driven into the ground. Abutments are the part of the bridge which connects the deck to the ground, helping support its weight. A 250-ton crane has also been mobilized in preparation for driving the test pile at the second abutment.

Pullouts along the 9.3 miles of construction between Apgar and North McDonald Road remain closed for the season. For up-to-date information about current conditions in the park, including where other construction projects are taking place, visit nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.