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Category 4 - Rural Highways: Highways

Award of Excellence

East Entrance Road, Sylvan Pass to East Entrance
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Curvilinear alignment and retaining walls reduce the impact to the surrounding slopes and help the East Entrance Road remain true to its historic alignment. Weatherized steel guardrail blends into the natural colors present along the route.Stone guardwall accentuates the curvilinear alignment as the East Entrance Road enters Sylvan Pass. Widened and deepened ditches along the erosive cut slopes minimize rockfall hazards.

The East Entrance Road in Yellowstone National Park was constructed in the 1930s by Civilian Conservation Corps crews under the supervision of the Bureau of Public Roads, the precursor to the FHWA. The goal of this project was to improve principal Park roads and the visitor’s experience and safety while protecting natural and cultural resources. The context-sensitive design of this project includes widening a historic road to accommodate visitors and modern vehicles; providing for wildlife viewing without blocking traffic; protecting vertical wetlands native vegetation and bear trails; and including special rails and rock-sculpting used to maintain rustic and natural aesthetics. Visitor experience was enhanced with the addition of pullouts, parking areas, and interpretive kiosks.

Designer: FHWA Western Federal Lands Highway Division, Vancouver, WA
Contractor: HK Contractors, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID
Owner: National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, WY

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Updated: 06/27/2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000