ST. GEORGE — It will be slower to drive into Zion National Park beginning Monday. Still, improvements this winter will make future flooding less likely, according to park officials.
One lane will remain open into the park, and one route out of the park will stay open at the South Entrance. The construction will improve drainage pipes under the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway near the park’s South Entrance, said Jonathan Shafer, Zion National Park spokesman.
Park crews will work in two adjoining areas: near the park’s South Vehicle Entrance and along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway next to South Campground.
“Maintenance staff from Zion worked collaboratively with National Park Service engineers to design improved culverts that expand and improve drainage infrastructure,” Shafer said. “Our goal is to enhance the flow of rainwater toward the Virgin River, the low point where water drains naturally. This work is intended to improve drainage and prevent flooding in the future.”
Shafer said the closure of some entry points at the park’s south end will help construction workers complete the project more quickly and efficiently. Drivers will follow a marked detour route through the South Campground so the construction contractor can work without interruption. This campground is usually closed during the winter, he said.
In addition to the improved trenches along the road, crews will resurface affected areas of the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. Shafer said the National Park Service’s engineers have been in the planning stages for the project since the June 2021 flood.
This project improves upon past efforts to relocate a park entrance monument and improve the fee booths at the park’s south entrance. The project also complements planning to improve the entire south entrance area, Shafer said, adding that the National Park Service is constantly working to identify ways to improve visitor services in the park.
Shafer said visitors should “pack their patience” through the construction and said weather could also come into play with more delays. Opening a single entrance lane at the park’s South Entrance can slow drivers’ entry. Park rangers will actively manage traffic while the construction is happening to address wait times.
Visitors can find updates about current conditions before traveling to the park, and Shafer said the seasonal shuttle schedule still will be running during the project.
“While the work is weather dependent, we are starting as soon as was possible so that we will finish as soon as possible,” Shafer said. “We anticipate finishing work and completely reopening the road in early-spring 2023. The work will not affect the park’s pedestrian & bicycle entrance.”
According to a news release, the number of people visiting Zion has increased, going from about 2.8 million visits in 2011 to over 5 million in 2021.
“We took advantage of the campground’s typical, seasonal closure to use roads as a detour route,” Shafer told St. George News. “We look forward to welcoming visitors while this essential work is happening.”
Visitors can check Zion National Park’s current conditions website and social media to get information about what to expect in the park.
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