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Road Work Will Temporarily Close Access To Points In Dinosaur National Monument

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By Compiled From N... - May 14th, 2023

Harpers Corner Road in Dinosaur National Monument/NPS file

A stretch of the Harpers Corner Road in Dinosaur National Monument will be rebuilt and repaved this summer, necessitating closure of public access to trails, picnic areas, and overlooks.

The $10.1 million construction project is scheduled to begin on May 30. The project includes reconstruction and repaving of seven miles of roadway and adjacent parking areas from U.S. Highway 40 to the Escalante Overlook, plus replacement of drainage structures and culverts. 

Harpers Corner Road is a scenic 31-mile (one way) road that begins approximately two miles east of Dinosaur, Colorado. The road provides dramatic viewpoints of the monument’s canyon country and access to several hiking trails and the Echo Park Road which leads to the Echo Park Campground. 

During construction, Sunrise Overlook, Plug Hat Butte Trails and Picnic Area, and the Escalante Overlook will be closed to all public access. Construction may occur up to seven days per week but will not occur on designated holidays. During the project, the speed limit on the road will be lowered from 45 mph to 25 mph in work zones. Flaggers will be present during work hours and visitors may experience delays of up to 30 minutes. The project is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2023. 

Funding for the project was provided by Federal Highway Administration and the National Park Service. The project is part of a concerted effort, which includes the Great American Outdoors Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Burdick Materials, headquartered in Roosevelt, Utah, is the prime contractor for the project. 

Access to the Quarry Visitor Center and the dinosaur fossils in the Quarry Exhibit Hall will not be affected by this project. For more information, call (435) 781-7700, visit www.nps.gov/dino or follow DinosaurNPS on social media.

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Comments

Submitted by Ron Litton on May 14, 2023 - 1:43pm.

Access will still be available to many sites along the road with temporary restrictions during actual construction phases. The park is still open... including the principal Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center and Exhibit Hall on the Utah side of the park, where all of the dinosaur fossils are found.


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