Construction Projects Update

National Park Service
Date: June 30, 2005
Contact: Michael Justin, (541)594-3008

Construction has begun on the first phase of a project to update visitor services at Rim Village in Crater Lake National Park. A portion of the cafeteria/gift store building is being rehabilitated as a year-round facility for gift sales and food service. The project also includes relocating parking to the rear of the building and restoring the existing parking area to a walking plaza. This design will relieve conflict between pedestrians viewing the lake and vehicle traffic accessing the area. In the future, the original 1928 camper’s store will be renovated as a year-round visitor contact station and interpretive center. During this project the building will be unavailable for use. A concession gift store is now open in the historic Community House at Rim Village and limited take-out food service is available near the Community House at a temporary facility. Some snack items are available at the National Park Service Visitor Center at park headquarters.

Throughout the summer of 2005, the main parking lot at Rim Village will be closed as work takes place. There will be some parking along the promenade at Rim Village. However, because of the parking limitations and as a safety measure, Rim Village will be closed to oversized vehicles during congested periods as necessary. Oversized vehicles include any vehicle larger than a full sized, single rear wheel, one ton pickup or any vehicle towing a trailer or other vehicle. The only access for oversized vehicles will be for those with prior reservations at Crater Lake Lodge, vehicles with handicapped plates or placards, and authorized administrative support and construction vehicles.

Congestion should be expected, during the middle of the day and on weekends and on holiday periods such as the upcoming 4th of July holiday, at Rim Village, which is the most popular destination in the park. Visitors are encouraged to consider bringing a picnic lunch and driving out East Rim Drive or West Rim Drive to one of the many scenic pullouts to enjoy lake views from those spots instead of Rim Village.

The park is also improving safety on park roads. The Federal Highway Administration has awarded a $3.5 million contract to LTM, Inc. of Medford to reconstruct approximately 8 miles of roadway inside Crater Lake National Park. This project is located on Hwy 62 from the southwest park boundary east to the south entrance station located near Annie Creek. The project involves realigning hazardous curves, replacing guardrails, stabilizing existing asphalt pavement, and overlaying the 8 mile stretch with a new pavement structure. Work is expected to continue through late September 2005.

This project will create traffic delays throughout the summer. Delays will be kept to a minimum; however, they may be up to 20 minutes in length. Work will take place from 7 am Monday through 9 pm Friday. During July crews will be working at the southwest park boundary and on Hwy 62 west of the Pacific Crest Trailhead to realign tight switchbacks. During this time there is an overall vehicle length restriction of 40 feet.

Oversized vehicles entering the park eastbound on Hwy 62 are requested to stop at Thousand Springs Sno-park (three miles west of the park boundary) for further information about access to the park. Starting approximately July 10th, vehicles longer than 40 feet will be asked to find an alternate route.

The road project will also require heavy truck traffic on Hwy 62 from the east, where loaded trucks will be traveling from Fort Klamath toward the work area.