Multiple construction projects Begin!
National Park Service
Date: May 23, 2005
Contact: Michael Justin, (541)594-3008
On June 1, we will begin 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 will be
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.
Beginning June 1, through summer 2005, most of the 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 1-ton pickup truck 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.
We expect congestion during the middle of the day and on
weekends at Rim Village, which is the most popular destination
in the park. Visitors may want 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, OR 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 some 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 a.m. Monday
thru 9 p.m. Friday, except for holidays. Delays are not expected
to begin until the week of June 6th, 2005, however there may be
minor delays prior to that. During June, 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. Any
vehicle longer than 40 feet will be asked to find an alternate
route, though there are not many.
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. There may be as many as 50 trucks
running at any one time.Please watch for them. Please be
courteous to flaggers as they are there for your safety. Also,
for your safety, please remain in your car when waiting for a
pilot car escort. If you have questions or need additional
information about the road project, please contact the Federal
Highway Administration Project Office at (541) 560-4010, Scott
Blower, Project Manager.
