After months of work, and no small inconvenience to visitors, the construction of a new bridge over the Gibbon River and a realigned roadway has ended in Yellowstone National Park and the result is a safer, more beautiful roadway with good access to picnic areas and fishing.
While the project -- which has been in the planning stages for about a decade and got under way back in August 2009 -- largely was wrapped up back in September, there still were delays to travelers as road striping and other cosmetic touches were concluded. Among the project's components were a redesigned Gibbon Falls Overlook and parking area and two new picnic areas. One of the new picnic areas is at Iron Springs. The old Gibbon Falls picnic area has been removed and the area now features a one-way road with a scenic pull-out.
While the route's opening will be short-lived -- all interior park roads are scheduled to close for winter on Monday morning, November 8 -- the project will benefit the public in the years to come with a safer route thanks to straightening of the road and the new 253-foot bridge.
And there's also an environmental benefit, as wetlands, rare plants, thermal areas, and even the path of the Gibbon River itself were disturbed when the old road was built in the 1930s. Part of reconstruction project involved not just removing the old road and bridge but restoring a 2-mile section of river corridor.
The land along the river was reshaped back to the way it was before the old road was built, and thousands of native plants grown from seed were to be planted in the area. When completed, about three acres of wetland habitat will have been restored, according to park officials.
The rock retaining walls are eye-pleasing, and we're told the lanes are wider with more reasonable shoulders, space-wise.
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Wider shoulders, a straighter road, and smooth pavement? Those sound like ingredients for faster driving.... not safer driving. Forty five MPH will feel like a snail's pace. With that said, I am happy to hear that the road was moved out of the more sensitive river corridor.
With our frequent visits to Y-stone we have watched the road changes start to take shape. We have altered our driving patterns due to road closures which hasn't been a big deal. What others might view as an inconvenience we viewed as an opportunity. We got some of our best photos of sunrises over West Thumb en route from Old Faithful Inn to the Mount Washburn trail head by going a different route. Still, it'll be nice to have that section open again-of course there will probably be another area that will need work, so the road projects are never truly all done!
I am always amazed at how fast some people will drive in the park. As if 45 isn't fast enough, they ride your bumper or pass you giving you dirty looks the whole time.We use the turnouts all the time because we are there to enjoy the Park. if you can't be relaxed and leave that "morning commute" mentality back home when you're on vacation, one wonders if they even know HOW to relax anymore!
Surveying and tree cutting for that project began way back in 1999 when I was still working at Madison Junction. Glad they finally got it finished :)