Recognizing the challenge posed by a particular segment of the Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National Park, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently awarded a $22 million grant to the National Park Service for its modernization and reconstruction.
The Norris to Golden Gate roadway is a 0.7 mile section that sees millions of travelers per year, in addition to local residents. Yellowstone itself relies on and encourages tourism, yet the road is a challenging one. With the money, the National Park Service hopes to improve its pedestrian access and overall safety, while alleviating rockfall hazards in the area and upgrading vehicles pullouts and parking areas. For its pedestrian initiative, this will include new pedestrian facilities to keep people and traffic separate.
“The funding announced today is the latest in a multitude of collaborations undertaken as part of our partnership spanning decades with the National Park Service,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “This partnership is helping to make visits to Yellowstone and the 428 other national parks across the country safer, more enjoyable, and convenient for years to come. We’re thrilled to be working with the National Park Service to improve access to and from this national treasure by providing a safer, more modern and reliable travel experience.”
In 2021, the National Park Services estimated that more than 4.9 million people visited Yellowstone. It believes that investments into the Norris to Golden Gate roadway will bolster tourism and provide sustained economic competitiveness through a better visitor experience.
“We are proud of our relationship with the Federal Highway Administration,” Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said. “From helping us reopen the park after the major flood in 2022, to helping us complete hundreds of millions of dollars in new infrastructure investments across Yellowstone, the Federal Highway Administration continues to be a critical partner.”
The grant was part of an $88.2 million investment package split between five projects nationwide for FY 2023.