Jackson Creek Road and Upper Hyalite/East Fork Hyalite Road Begin Improvements.
By Moosetrack Megan

Posted: August 30, 2022

Bozeman, MT- August 29, 2022 – Two popular roads on the Bozeman Ranger District, Custer Gallatin National Forest will begin significant road improvements starting September 6, 2022, for the East Fork of Hyalite Road and September 12th for the Jackson Creek Road respectively. The Jackson Creek project is part of the $285-million-dollar investment made possible by the newly created National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, established in 2020 by the Great American Outdoors Act. The Hyalite project is a multi-year project continuing from work done in 2020 and 2021 on Hyalite Canyon Road (#62) and the East Fork Hyalite Road (#6280). Work in Hyalite will continue into the fall as conditions allow, and then will resume next summer in 2023. The Hyalite project is made possible by the Federal Lands Transportation Program.

“The improvements with both projects are exciting and we are happy to see work get started on the ground,” said Corey Lewellen, Bozeman District Ranger “Jackson Creek Road work will reestablish the road prism itself by adding surfacing material, while also adding improved drainage, culverts, and turnouts. Up Hyalite, the portion of the road from the Y to Palisade Falls will ultimately receive paving, while the East Fork Hyalite Road includes some realignment for safety needs, culverts, and improved drainage.” Although there will be delays and short-term impacts on access, these projects will ultimately provide for better user experience and minimize impacts to resources.

Forest users should expect construction delays of up to 30 minutes or longer during culvert installations on the East Fork of Hyalite Road and Jackson Creek Road throughout the fall.  During construction expect trucks hauling gravel traveling up and down the corridors, narrow detours and slow, bumpy conditions related to the construction work. Trailheads impacted will include the Palisade Falls, Emerald Lake, and Jackson Creek Trailheads.  Users are encouraged to visit one of the other numerous trailheads we are fortunate enough to have around the area, including Grotto Falls and Hyalite Trail to avoid delays.

There are currently 17 Great American Outdoors Act projects currently being implemented across the Custer Gallatin National Forest, with projects ranging from Cabin preservation and restoration to road improvements to motorized trail improvements and trails maintenance in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness.  Across the agency the USDA Forest Service is implementing more than 500 infrastructure improvement projects essential to the continued use and enjoyment of national forests and grasslands. The Great American Outdoors Act funds are critical in helping to reduce the Forest Service’s $5.9-billion-dollar deferred maintenance backlog and is an important step in restoring what our visitors love about national forests.

For timing and additional information please call the Bozeman Ranger District Office at (406) 522-2520.

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