Grand Teton National Park Officials are planning on a proposed re-route of the northern section of the Moose-Wilson road. For much of its nine-mile stretch, the narrow road winds between steep hills on one side and wetland habitat on the other. The road is frequently congested with cars that stop to look at bears, moose, and other animals that live by the road.
Now, as part of its 2007 transportation plan, Park service officials are planning on a proposal that would move the Moose-Wilson road eastward and away from the wetland corridor. Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says that the road presents safety and environmental concerns.
“It has to do with safety concerns for visitors related to the congestion and the lack of roadside paring, and the limited distances of sight for a car coming up on to a congested area, and the potential for accidents, but also the impacts to wildlife from the presence of humans in those very important movement areas,” says Skaggs.
Skaggs says the re-route will affect the portion of the road between the Death Canyon Junction and its intersection with the Teton Park road at Moose, and is slated to begin construction in 2016.