YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Following 2022’s historic flood in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), the National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Highway Administration are devising reconstruction plans for the park’s North Entrance Road.

That flood wiped out sections of the North Entrance Road between Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, Montana, along with segments of the Northeast Entrance Road between Tower Junction and Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana. Temporary road fixes were put in place in the months after the flood, but YNP notes they were “not engineered for the long-term.” The North and Northeast entrances are open year-round, making these road segments particularly high-use.

The latest step in the planning process is to gather public feedback on an environmental assessment for the new, permanent reconstruction. YNP stated on Monday that its goals for the project include “continuing to provide year-round access between Gardiner and Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana, improving the road’s safety, and ensuring long-term visitor access while protecting natural and cultural resources.”

YNP will host two meetings next week, one in-person and one virtual. Project staff will present three preliminary road alignment options followed by Q&A sessions.

A 30-day public comment period on the manner began on Monday, Jan. 5, and will be open through Feb. 4. Comments will be accepted online or via mail to this address: Yellowstone Center for Resources, Attn: North Entrance Road EA, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Once the comment period ends, the park service will consider the feedback and announce its final plans in the spring.

Access project materials on the North Entrance Road Reconstruction Project webpage.

Marianne is the Editor of Buckrail. She handles breaking news and reports on a little bit of everything. She's interested in the diversity of our community, arts/entertainment and crazy weather.