Re: Yellowstone Bridge Replacement Proposal Out For Public Comment

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2009 09-068
Al Nash or Stacy Vallie (307) 344-2015

Bridge Replacement Proposal Out For Public Comment

Yellowstone is asking the public to review a proposal to replace an aging bridge on the park’s Northeast Entrance Road.

The Lamar River Bridge is located about five miles east of Tower Junction. The bridge was built 68 years ago, and despite ongoing maintenance, has deteriorated. It does not meet current road design or seismic standards. While there are no safety issues that should be of concern to travelers, the National Park Service strictly prohibits oversized and overweight vehicles from traveling across the bridge.

Three alternatives have been analyzed in an environmental assessment (EA) which has been released for public review and comment. The preferred alternative calls for building a new bridge just upstream from the current structure, allowing travel over the road to continue during construction.

The EA and an electronic form to submit comments on the Internet can be found on the web at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. A hard copy of the plan is available by calling (307) 344-2017 or by writing the National Park Service, Lamar River Bridge EA, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. Written comments may be submitted through this web site, in person, or by mail. Comments will not be accepted by phone, fax, or e-mail. All public comments must be received or postmarked by midnight, September 25, 2009.

Once comments are analyzed, the National Park Service will make a decision on a preferred alternative and the final plan. The Regional Director of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service will then sign a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) containing details of the decision.

Perhaps they will consider restoring it to its original condition:

Barronette Bridge over the Yellowstone

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

That'd be great for those big, giant SUV drivers.

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eeek
That'd be great for those big, giant SUV drivers.

A few weeks ago I actually drove over a small wooden bridge. While I was driving a compact car, they'd also used it for full-sized passenger vans as well as behemoth pickups.

I wasn't sure how great an idea it was, since the thing creaked when I walked on it.

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eeek
That'd be great for those big, giant SUV drivers.

hehh hehh hehh - yeesss... ):-)