North Fork Road work comes with delays, closures

Folks trying to get into Glacier National Park’s Polebridge entrance can expect delays of up to a half hour, as crews are working on reconstructing Glacier Drive.

The work has been going on for a few weeks now and will run into October. Crews are working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Folks can expect delays in Polebridge itself beginning on or about Aug. 14.

Glacier Drive will eventually be paved from Polebridge townsite to the park entrance using asphalt millings from the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which is also undergoing reconstruction from the foot of Lake McDonald to the North Lake McDonald Road.

The upper end of the North Fork Road — the last 5.5 miles — is closed entirely to all traffic as the road is being reconstructed up there as well.

Only residents and guests will be allowed through.

The projects have been years in the making. A $5.33 million contract was awarded to Brice Inc., of Alaska earlier this year. The company also has offices in the lower 48 as well.

The bulk of the funding comes from a Federal Lands Access Program grant, with matching funds from Flathead County.