Beartooth Highway, Activity Updates
Construction Activity and Road Condition Information for the period of:
October 15th to the Winter Shutdown
Anticipated Construction Schedule, Subject to Change:
| Work Description |
Status |
Estimated Start Dates |
Estimated Completion Dates |
| Erosion Control Measures |
Ongoing |
May 5, 2008 |
Continual until completion |
| Clearing and Grubbing |
Completed |
May 21, 2008 |
July 15, 2008 |
| Waterline Installation |
Completed |
June 16, 2008 |
August 8, 2008 |
| Pipe Culvert Installation |
Ongoing |
June 2, 2008 |
Summer 2008 |
| Rock Crushing |
Completed |
June 16, 2008 |
October 4, 2008 |
| Earthwork |
Ongoing |
June 16, 2008 |
October 2008 |
Construction Activities and Upcoming Work
The contract was awarded to Oftedal Construction.
The Woody Creek Staging Area (by the dump) is closed to public dumping. The new wood dump is at the old USFS dump on the south side of the highway near the Lulu Pass Road. Signs are installed to direct where dumping of wood is allowed. Watch for truck traffic when using the wood dump. Public parking near the dump is now allowed for the winter. Please park in the first area on the left when entering.
Clearing and grubbing is complete.
Waterline work is complete for this project.
Pipe culvert installation will continue with pipe culverts being installed west of Silver Gate.
The power lines have been relocated. The majority of the phone cable between Cooke City and Silver Gate has been moved or temporarily relocated.
Permanent seeding, fertilizing and mulching were completed on all finished slopes.
Drilling and blasting is complete for this project. The gravel crushing is complete.
During the construction season in 2008, the asphalt will be removed and the earthwork operations will begin between Cooke City and the Silver Gate. Expect heavy truck traffic for the earthwork operations. Work will progress towards Silver Gate in the fall. In cooperation with the businesses in Silver Gate, construction through Silver Gate is currently underway. The existing asphalt and 2 feet of material is being removed and replaced with a geogrid fabric and 2 feet of gravel. The gravel will be topped with asphalt that was removed and crushed. The crushed asphalt will be the surface through the winter and next season until paving.
The existing asphalt has been removed. For the road surface this winter, the asphalt that was removed was crushed into a gravel-type surface and placed on the newly placed gravel surface. The crushed asphalt surface will be the running surface for the winter.
Construction work will continue past October 15th. Oftedal is planning on 2 weeks additional work past October 15th. Poor weather could push some of the work into November. Weekend work may occur if the forecast is for favorable weather.
Driving Conditions
For up to date road closures and travel information on the Beartooth Highway call 1-888-285 INFO (4636). This hotline is updated on a weekly basis during the construction season.
The road is currently open to public traffic. See below for traffic delays.
Motorists should be prepared for winter driving conditions. For the winter, the surface will be a crushed asphalt surface between Cooke City and Silver Gate. The existing asphalt will remain in place from Silver Gate to the Northeast Entrance.
Oftedal will plow US 212 from Cooke City to the Northeast Entrance from October 15th through November 30th. The National Park Service will take over plowing operations from December 1st through February 28th.
Traffic Delays
During the construction season, expect delays up to 30 minutes. No delays will occur on the weekends (between Memorial Day and Labor Day) or holidays. Pilot cars will be utilized. For landowners along the route, signs saying "Wait for Pilot Car" will be placed at your driveway indicating your driveway is within the work zone. Please wait for the pilot car and the traffic traveling in your direction.
Occasionally it will be necessary to have one lane roadways during the night time hours. Traffic signals will be utilized to facilitate the one lane traffic during non work hours.
Delays will continue this construction season as late in the season as the weather allows work to continue. Delays may occur on the weekends of October 18-19, 25-26, or November 1-2 if weather conditions are favorable for work.
Traffic Detours
No detours are in place at this time.
Road Closures
No road closures are scheduled for this project.
US 212 on the Beartooth Pass from the Long Lake closure gate to the MT/Wyoming state line is currently closed for the season. US 212 over Colter Pass between Cooke City and Pilot Creek will no longer be plowed beginning on November 3rd.
Alternate Routes
No alternate routes are available. All traffic entering or leaving the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park will travel through the construction project.
ALL NOTICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, WEATHER DEPENDENT.
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