JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. – Travelers are advised to expect delays this fall when using US Highway 89/191/287 near Arizona Creek in Grand Teton National Park.
Grand Teton NP, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, is conducting maintenance work at Arizona Creek, approximately five miles north of Colter Bay, Construction crews are preparing for the installation of new wing walls at Arizona Creek and travelers should expect one-lane traffic with up to 15-minute delays.
The work will also involve temporary highway closures at Arizona Creek. Two 2-hour closures of the highway are planned for Wednesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 17. Closures will occur mid-morning and mid-afternoon each day, with time between the closures for one-way traffic access through the area.
Those wishing to access or depart Yellowstone National Park on these dates through Yellowstone’s South Gate may want to consider using the Yellowstone West Entrance to avoid the delay.
The work will address deferred maintenance in the park. The scope of work at Arizona Creek is to replace four failing concrete wing walls that channel water into the box culverts and protect the adjacent bank. Pre-cast wing walls will be installed by using a crane to move them and set them in place. One pre-cast wing wall weighs approximately 46,000 pounds and therefore requires a large crane to set the walls in place. The crane will take up both lanes of traffic once set up.
During this time of the year, visitation to the area winds down, services and facilities are closing, and there is much less traffic, making it the opportune time for this work to take place before winter weather arrives.
Roadwork schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.
