Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael V. Finley announced the Dunraven Road between the Canyon Village intersection and Tower Fall is scheduled to reopen to the public on Friday, August 28, 1998, at 5 p.m. The road had been closed to the public on Wednesday, August 12, 1998, because of safety concerns. The speed limit on the Dunraven Road between Canyon Village intersection and Tower Fall has been reduced to 35 mph.

Since August 12, park road crews have been doing extensive work to make the road safe and reopen it to the public. This year, more than 5,160 tons of material and $235,000 ($200,000 in fee money) has been used to do extensive road grader patching and patch and fill potholes. A total crew of 32 (includes those producing and laying the material and truck drivers) were assigned to the project. "We know what an impact this closure has had on the visiting public, and we appreciate the understanding and patience they have demonstrated throughout this closure," Superintendent Finley noted. "The closure allowed us to complete the project more safely, in about half the time, and at a much lower cost. Unfortunately, this is just a short-term fix to a long-term problem. Until major reconstruction is completed on this segment of road, there will continue to be deterioration and pavement failure."

Dunraven Road was last graded and surfaced in 1935, with a minor resurfacing in 1942. Patching and sealing has occurred occasionally since then. The road has not been re-engineered to meet modern standards for 63 years, so it is essentially still a light-traffic road built for little more than stagecoaches and small motor vehicles. Soils that do not drain well and extreme environmental conditions have led to widespread deterioration, countless potholes, and other pavement failures. A major Federal Highways Administration initiative has modernized 116 miles of park road, but 234 miles remain and must be maintained until they can be replaced.

Park visitors are reminded to obey all traffic regulations and use caution while driving park roads; roads are narrow and winding with potholes or sharp pavement drop-offs. The speed limit on the Dunraven Road between Canyon Village intersection and Tower Fall has been posted to 35 mph. For the remainder of the park the maximum speed limit, unless otherwise posted, is 45 mph

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