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GAOA to Fund Yellowstone River Bridge Replacement

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has recently awarded a construction contract worth approximately $118 million to replace the structurally deficient Yellowstone River Bridge on the Northeast Entrance Road near Tower Junction. 

The project will be funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and will preserve year-round public access to and from the park’s Northeast Entrance and communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana.

The National Park Service Director, Chuck Sams, expressed his gratitude towards the bipartisan GAOA support that is providing funding for the necessary infrastructure upgrades in national parks to improve safety and the visitor experience. 

As a vital piece of the only road corridor in the park that is plowed for winter use, the Yellowstone River Bridge provides visitors and communities with all-season opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the world’s first national park.

The existing 604-foot-long bridge, built in 1963, will be replaced by a new 1,285-foot-long, 175-foot-high steel girder bridge upstream. 

Furthermore, GAOA funding will assist in the construction of approximately one mile of new road to line up with the replacement bridge location. 

The new pullouts, paved parking areas, and dedicated pedestrian route across the new bridge will increase access to trails, fishing, and viewpoints. 

The construction will also enlarge the popular Yellowstone River Picnic Area to accommodate increased visitor use.

The project is scheduled to begin in summer 2023 and will be completed in fall 2026. 

The Federal Highway Administration awarded the construction contract to HK Contractors, INC of Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

Automobile traffic will use the existing bridge while the new bridge is under construction. Occasional traffic delays will be short. 

Once complete, the existing road segment and bridge will be removed, and the area will be rehabilitated. 

Wetlands bisected by the existing road segment will be re-established, and the Lost Creek drainage currently occupied by the road segment will be restored to its original alignment.

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly expressed his appreciation for the support in getting this major project funded. 

This has been one of their highest deferred maintenance priorities for years and will help ensure safe visitor and community access within the northeast corridor. 

This project will also reduce the park’s deferred maintenance and repair needs associated with this facility by approximately $39 million. 

In 2022, Yellowstone reported an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance and repairs, more than half of which is related to park roads.

Infrastructure funding from GAOA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of a concerted effort to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. 

Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to the National Park Service to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.

The Northeast Entrance Road, where the bridge is located, is a vital transportation route for visitors and local communities, including private campgrounds and recreational facilities.

During the construction of the new bridge, occasional traffic delays are expected, which could affect the tourism industry, including private campgrounds and recreational facilities.

However, once the project is complete, visitors will have improved access to the park, making it more attractive for tourism-related businesses. 

With increased access to trails, fishing, and viewpoints, the project is also expected to increase visitor numbers to the park and surrounding areas, benefiting private campgrounds and recreational facilities.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: GAOA to Fund Yellowstone River Bridge Replacement! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/usa/wyoming/gaoa-to-fund-yellowstone-river-bridge-replacement/