Major rehabilitation of the main road through Arches National Park next year will result in traffic snarls and the closure of the Devils Garden Campground for most of 2017/Kurt Repanshek

You might not want to find Arches National Park in Utah next year, as major road work is planned for the main park road from the entrance station to Devils Garden Campground, which will be closed for most of 2017.

Park officials say the work is planned for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but say the project could possibly be completed next year. The work entails resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating approximately 26 miles of roads and pullouts in Arches along the entrance road (from U.S. Highway 191 to the visitor center), main park road, the campground road, and other spur roads and loops.

Work will include pulverizing and resurfacing all paved roads; removing and replacing the bridge rail at Courthouse Wash bridge; formalizing pull-offs; conducting drainage work near the entrance station; constructing a new entry lane; constructing a roundabout along the entrance lane; and, building a turnaround lane at The Windows loop road.

The park anticipates that much of the pulverizing, paving and other work will occur at night so as to minimize impacts to visitor daytime travel and access. Work along the entrance road (from U.S. Highway 191 to the visitor center) could take six to eight weeks to complete. If work during the day becomes necessary, crews may complete entrance road and roundabout work with intermittent lane closures. Specific areas may require full road and area closures, such as at Devils Garden Campground, Delicate Arch road and The Windows road. Closures may be up to two weeks for each area.

Phase one of the project includes the park entrance road and work from Devils Garden to the intersection of the Delicate Arch road. Phase two of the project includes work on the Delicate Arch and Windows roads, followed by work from the junction of Delicate Arch road to the park entrance station.

While construction crews will make every effort to minimize disruption to visitor travel and activities during this project, visitors should expect delays and closures for much of the season. In order to maximize staff and visitor safety, the park may close Devils Garden, Delicate Arch and Windows area trails during construction in those areas. The park will reopen trails once area construction work is completed.

Construction crews may use pilot cars and flaggers to control traffic day or night. When partial daytime closures are in effect, crews will limit traffic delays to 30 minutes or less per work zone. There may be loose gravel on some roadway surfaces. Drivers should drive slowly and use extra caution through these areas. The park will post construction information and updates on its official website and social media channels. The park will also provide information to local businesses, visitor bureaus, and chambers of commerce as more specific construction dates and plans are determined.