Rocky Mountain National Park Bear Lake Road Weekday Shuttle Access Only Begins May 28 - July 19

ESTES PARK, Colo. - May 28, 2013 - PRLog -- Bear Lake Road from approximately one mile southwest of Moraine Park Visitor Center to Bear Lake will be accessible by free shuttle bus only on weekdays from 9am to 4pm.    Private vehicles will be allowed both directions prior to 9am and after 4pm, and vehicles that make the 9am cutoff time may leave throughout the day.  

Expect at least two 20 minute delays both directions through the construction area.  There will be no construction delays between Park & Ride and Bear Lake.  There may be night closures during the construction, but they will be announced at least two weeks prior to occurring and will only occur on weeknights.

Glacier Basin Campground will be closed this summer, and pull-off areas may be closed at times during the construction.  Moraine Park Visitor Center will be the Shuttle Bus Transfer point until July 19 and will have very limited parking.

Plan ahead - take the free Shuttle Buses.  Hike early, or hike late, and
carpool!

Bear Lake Road was originally completed in 1928.  This $27.7M project, begun in 2012, upgrades Bear Lake Road from the junction with Trail Ridge Road to the Park & Ride, Glacier Basin Campground, covering 5.1 miles.  Significant retaining walls are being put in to improve safety and drainage, and a .9 mile section was rerouted away from Glacier Creek to prevent impacts to wetlands and riparian habitat.  Safety and winter snow removal will be enhanced by the new, wider road, and parking and pullouts improved.

Bear Lake is one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most popular scenic drives, and offers access to favorite hiking areas at Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.