Thread by @YellowstoneNPS

As Yellowstone reopens for the 2023 summer season, we wanted to thank the many partners who have helped us repair major infrastructure damage from last summer's 500-year flood event.

#NationalParkWeek #NPSGratitude

2/ After receiving a combined 7.5-9.5 inches of rain and snowmelt in a 24-hour period last June, flooding destroyed park roads, wastewater infrastructure, backcountry trails and bridges, and power systems.

3/ Most notably, the North Entrance Road and Northeast Entrance Road had multiple sections destroyed, effectively cutting off access to the park from the neighboring gateway communities of Gardiner, MT (North Entrance) and Cooke City/Silver Gate, MT (Northeast Entrance).

4/ Over the next few months, the park and partners designed and completed emergency improvements to the Old Gardiner Road (the historic dirt road that was constructed in 1879 as the original entrance to Yellowstone), which is now known as the Temporary North Entrance Road.

5/ Additionally, the park and partners repaired the damaged sections of the Northeast Entrance Road to restore park access by the end of October 2022.

6/ Thank you to FHWA Western Federal Lands Highway Division, RockSol Consulting Group, HK Contractors, Jacobs Engineering Group, Oftedal Construction, & NPS. The massive effort to design/construct/repair these roads on an accelerated timeline was a direct result of partnership!

7/ Learn more about the park’s flood recovery efforts: go.nps.gov/YELLflood