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Phase I of the North 89 Pathway (the 4.3-mile section between the Town of Jackson and Grand Teton National Park south boundary turnout above the Fish Hatchery) opened to public use on Sunday, May 1st, giving bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users the opportunity to travel off the busy highway along the National Elk Refuge. Users should be aware that a portion of the pathway just south of the Fish Hatchery Road is still under construction and will be closed for the immediate future. Construction crews will be working to complete a section of retaining wall and guardrail, and a detour around the construction area will briefly divert pathway users through the vehicle turnout and onto the highway shoulder for approximately 700 feet. Pathway users are expected to use caution and obey all closure signs and instructions from work crews when travelling through construction areas.
Construction on the remainder of the pathway project, including the underpass connecting the pathway to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and the 1.4-mile pathway section from the Grand Teton south boundary turnout to the Gros Ventre River will start May 2nd and continue through the spring and summer, with final completion of the Teton County project by the end of September. Until the completion of the underpass in late May, a temporary detour will be necessary to route pathway users around the construction area.
The Phase III construction of the Gros Ventre River Bridge has already started with installation of the bridge abutments and piers during March and April to take advantage of the pre-runoff river levels. Placement of the bridge structure is scheduled for late August, following completion of the Phase II pathway section.
Additionally, later this summer Grand Teton National Park will be constructing approximately 6 miles of pathway between the Gros Ventre River and Moose Junction to connect the Teton County system to the GTNP system. Construction of the Grand Teton National Park pathway project is expected to run through at least the middle of October.
The construction crews will be implementing traffic control measures, including a speed reduction from 55 mph to 45 mph between the Town of Jackson and Moose Junction through the entire summer for the duration of both the Teton County and Grand Teton projects. Two-way traffic should be maintained at all times and underpass and bridge crews will work double shifts to minimize the overall length of the impact to motorists.
Questions may be directed to Brian Schilling, Pathways Coordinator for the Town of Jackson, at (307) 732-8573 or bschilling@ci.jackson.wy.us.
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