Despite snow, Sun Road work continues
Crews were working on building a massive retaining wall to shore up a huge 100-foot hole that eroded away last fall during November flooding on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Last week, parts of the Park had more than a foot of snow on the level and drifts up to three feet. The wall itself is finished. Alan Davis Federal Highways Administration photo
By CHRIS PETERSON - Hungry Horse News
Despite a hot, dry, summer, winter seems to have arrived right on time in Glacier National Park's high country, dumping up to three feet of snow at Logan Pass and several inches of snow at valley locations on the east side last week.
The West Flattop Mountain SNOTEL site in Glacier recorded a snow depth of up to 15 inches last Friday (Oct. 5), but it has since melted considerably — down to just 3.6 inches as of Tuesday.
The weather this weekend is calling for a chance of rain with highs in the 40s and 50s, which should ease the threat of more high country snow — at least for a few more days, though a larger precipitation event looks to be in the works early next week.
Despite the snow, construction crews have plowed the Sun Highway and continued work there, as they try to shore up the road where it was damaged by flooding last November.
The temporary bridge that spanned a gap left by a large washout last November has been removed and crews have finished a retaining wall in its place and are bringing the road surface up to grade as well as adding more large culverts. Crews worked two shifts to get the job done.
Finish work, like paving may have to wait until next spring, Park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt said.
Crews from HK Construction are also continuing work on the west side of the highway near the west side tunnel, scaling rock off the cliff faces that could threaten the road as well as bolting rock in place.
The scaling work is nearly done and crews are also working on reconstructing retaining walls.
A contract to Willow Creek Construction for $300,000 had been let to replace the horse and foot bridge that washed away over McDonald Creek. Crews have 60 days to complete the work and are currently dismantling the old bridge, which was wrecked by flood debris.
The bridge will return to a more historic look, Vanderbilt noted.
The section of highway between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook is closed for the season to vehicle traffic.
Hikers and bikers on the west side can travel to Packers Roost Road, but no farther because of construction.
On the east side, the road is open to Jackson Glacier Overlook.
All of the Park's secondary roads are open except Chief Mountain, which is closed at the Park boundary.