Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review and Comment

Carmel Highway Rehabilitation has been completed and is available for public review and comment. The proposed project would rehabilitate, restore and resurface approximately 9 miles of road from Canyon Junction to the East Entrance. The road was completed in 1930 and since then has only had routine cyclic maintenance including asphalt patches, crack-sealing and chip-sealing. Because of environmental effects (rain, snow, heat), heavy traffic, and time the road has deteriorated.

The proposed rehabilitation and improvement activities would occur in two phases along 9.5 miles of highway. The first phase, scheduled for 2010, would include rehabilitation of 3.5 miles of roadway on the west side of the tunnel from the Virgin River bridge near the intersection with the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the west tunnel portal. It is anticipated that this work would take up to 7 months to complete. The second phase, scheduled for 2012, would include rehabilitation of 6.0 miles of the roadway from the east portal of the tunnel to the park’s eastern boundary. It is anticipated that this work would take up to 5 months to complete. The rehabilitation would include: asphalt pulverization, milling and overlay; subgrade excavation and replacement to stabilize areas impacted by surface water infiltration; cleaning, refurbishing or adding culverts; regrading or paving ditches; guard wall stabilization or construction; and pullout and parking area improvements.

If you wish to review and submit comments on the EA we encourage you to do so online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/zion. Comments may also be mailed to: Zion National Park, ZMCH Road Rehabilitation, Springdale, UT 84767.

Please submit all comments before July 28, 2009.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time.  While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information on this proposed project contact Kezia Nielsen, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (435) 772-0211 or visit the NPS planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/zion.