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Going-to-the-Sun Road Rehabilitation Project

Latest Construction Update

The Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) is currently closed for the winter season. Generally plowing begins on April 1 each year. For the most up to date park road closures and travel information related to the Going-to-the-Sun Road project, call 1- 406-888-7800 or visit the Glacier National Park Current Road Status website.

A Celebration of Completion of the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation is scheduled for June 27, 2019, at Sun Point just off of the Sun Road approximately 10.1 miles east of St. Mary. The rehabilitation project constructed by HK Contractors completed on November 15, 2018. The location of the celebration, Sun Point, is a main visitor area along the corridor and designed by park service landscape architects. It was completely rehabilitated and represents well the scope of work the overall project accomplished over the past 13 years of construction. Please plan to attend this celebration. More details will follow.

The St. Mary Entrance Station Kiosk will be under construction in the early spring of 2019 to add some signs, over-height sensors, a gate, and other traffic control items to help direct the flow of traffic through the Entrance Station. These items are necessary due to low clearance in the left-most inbound lane and the continued impacts experienced since the station reopened in 2017 after full reconstruction.

The Glacier Pavement Preservation project will start the spring of 2019 as early as snow conditions and plowing will allow. The work will includes crack sealing, subexcavation patchwork, chip seal, and micro-surfacing. The main areas of work are the Going-to-the-Sun Road with some pullouts, portions of some campgrounds including Apgar, Sprague Creek, Avalanche, and St. Mary, lodging areas including Lake McDonald and Rising Sun, Apgar Village, west half of the Camas Road, far west end of the Many Glacier Road (major construction on this road will commence in 2020), Chief Mountain Highway, and Hudson Bay District Compound. This project will continue until the spring of 2020.

The St. Mary River pedestrian bridge will be reconstructed from its piers up starting in September. During construction the footpath between the St. Mary Visitor Center and the St. Mary Campground will be closed to foot and bicycle traffic. The work is expected to take roughly 45 days to complete.

This year, visitors should be aware that the Going-to-the-Sun Road will be closed from either the west or east sides from September 16th through the 27th for pavement preservation work. Logan Pass will be open from the other side during this period. Seasonal closure from Avalanche to Rising Sun will occur on October 21 for winter shutdown efforts.

Project Overview

As you are most likely aware, the Going-to-the-Sun Road is undergoing an extensive rehabilitation. This multi-year project is overseen by the Federal Highway Administration in partnership with the National Park Service at Glacier National Park.

After extensive public involvement in the early 2000s, the preferred alternative selected for the park's environmental impact statement directs 'Shared Use' of the Sun Road during the core summer season (mid June to mid September), weather permitting.

Weather permitting, before and after the core season of 'Shared Use' (mid June to Mid September), road work for the project will be accelerated and prevent through traffic across the entire Sun Road.