Melissa i
Strong

From National Park Info:

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http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/bearlakeroad_reconstruction.htm

 

Bear Lake Reconstruction Map                     
Shuttle Bus Routes and Information
Night Closures

 

 

NPS Photo

Phase 1 of the Bear Lake Road Reconstruction in 2003/2004.

Bear Lake Road is one of the most popular scenic roads in Rocky Mountain National Park and provides year-round visitor access to a variety of wonderful recreational opportunities. More than 2 million visitors a year are estimated to drive on Bear Lake Road and last year over 440,000 riders took advantage of the shuttle buses along the corridor. Beginning on March 5, visitors should expect major construction work on the lower section of the road for the next two years.

The construction will take place on Bear Lake Road from the junction of Trail Ridge Road/Highway 36 to the Park & Ride - Glacier Basin Campground intersection, covering 5.1 miles. The work will be similar in scope and impacts as the first phase of reconstruction on Bear Lake Road which was completed in 2004, and took place on the upper 4.3 mile section of road. This major project will involve construction of significant retaining walls to improve safety and drainage. In addition, a 0.9 mile section will be rerouted away from Glacier Creek, in order to prevent impacts to wetlands and riparian habitat and reduce costs. Repairs will be made on the Big Thompson Bridge to improve safety. Structural deficiencies will be corrected in the roadway and inadequate parking and pullout design will be improved. This project will widen the road and improve the road surface to better accommodate park shuttle buses. Safety associated with winter snow removal will be enhanced by the wider road.

Beginning on March 5, park visitors should expect at least one 30 minute delay, Monday through Friday, on the lower section of Bear Lake Road. As the construction proceeds, visitors should expect rough road conditions.

From May 29, through October 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Bear Lake Road, approximately one mile west of Moraine Park Visitor Center to Bear Lake, will be accessible by free shuttle bus only, seven days a week. Private vehicles will be allowed both directions prior to 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. Visitors in private vehicles, who make the 9:00 a.m. cutoff time, will be allowed to travel eastbound throughout the day. All visitors, in private vehicles or shuttle buses, should expect at least two 20-minute delays both west and eastbound through the construction area. There will be no construction delays between Park & Ride and Bear Lake. There may be night closures during the construction. Night closures will be announced at least two weeks prior to occurring.

The park's three shuttle routes will be modified during the construction. The Bear Lake Route will run between Moraine Park Visitor Center and Bear Lake with stops at Hollowell Park, Park & Ride, Bierstadt Bus Stop, Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake. The Moraine Park Route will run between the Moraine Park Visitor Center and the Fern Lake bus stop with stops at Moraine Park Campground, Cub Lake Trailhead and Fern Lake bus stop. The first bus will depart from the Moraine Park Visitor Center at 7:00 a.m. and the last bus will leave at 7:00 p.m. The last bus of the day will leave Bear Lake and Fern Lake Trailheads at 7:30 p.m. Bear Lake Route buses will run every 15 minutes but may be delayed during periods of road construction. Moraine Park Route buses will run every 20 minutes.