Park looks at west entrance overhaul

Hungry Horse News

Glacier National Park is looking at a major upgrade to its west entrance station.

The Park plans on adding two lanes to the entrance. One would be an automated entrance lane for employees and concessionaires. The estimated cost is about $800,000, which doesn't include new restrooms, said Park Spokeswoman Melissa Wilson.

The new approach lane would be added starting at the headquarters turn-off.

On busy days in the summertime, traffic has been known to back up as far as West Glacier as folks try to get into the Park.

The Park sees roughly 2 million visitors a year and the majority of them go through the west entrance.

Glacier also plans on upgrading the toilets for employees at the entrance as well as adding a break room.

The west entrance project will be be done in conjunction with a new development plan for headquarters that includes a washing area for large vehicles and possibly a museum.

The Park will see a new fleet of shuttle buses that folks can use to get up and down the Going-to-the-Sun Highway.

The small busses - called Sprinters- are already here, but the larger buses, which hold more people, have yet to arrive in the Park.

Expanding the west entrance and creating the headquarters development plan are discussed in detail in two separate environmental assessments put out by the Park.

The assessments are available through the park's planning Web site: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=61 and comments can be made directly through this Web site. Or write to: Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: West Entrance EA, or Campus Plan EA, West Glacier, MT 59936.

Comments are due by May 18.