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Plan To Replace Yellowstone National Park Bridge Approved, Awaits Funding

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Published Date

April 16, 2020

A plan to replace this bridge in Yellowstone National Park has been approved, but still needs to be funded/NPS file

A plan to replace the deteriorating Yellowstone River Bridge in Yellowstone National Park has been approved, but it still needs funding.

The Yellowstone River Bridge between Tower Junction and the park's Northeast Entrance is suffering from deterioration on the concrete deck, sidewalks, and parapets.

The plan approved by Intermountain Regional Director Mike Reynolds calls for a bridge roughly twice as long as the existing structure. The intended route the engineers have selected would avoid wetlands currently impacted by the present road alignment and eliminate a hairpin curve, according to the park's environmental assessment.

The project, estimated to cost around $50 million, is needed because current engineering assessments of the bridge say it is "seriously deficient or presents a safety hazard, but can remain in service at reduced loads or with frequent inspections."

The bridge, built in the early 1960s, is part of the only road corridor in the park that is open year-round and plowed in the winter. Under the park's plan, the new 1,200-foot-long bridge would be built across the river about 500 feet south of the existing bridge. One mile of new road would be constructed to line up with the new bridge location. Following construction, the existing bridge and approximately 1.5 miles of existing road would be removed, and the area restored," the EA notes.

Parking, pullouts, and the Yellowstone River Picnic Area, located along this road segment, would also be redesigned and reconstructed to accommodate increased visitor use. 

Automobile traffic will use the existing bridge while the new bridge is under construction. Traffic delays will be minimal. Once complete, the existing road segment and bridge will be removed, and the area rehabilitated.

Depending upon funding, roadwork could begin as early as spring 2022 and last for three consecutive years.

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