Montana, here I come!

Mudslides that occurred May 19 and 20, 2005 on the Beartooth Highway have caused extensive damage and the road has been closed.

A section of the Beartooth Scenic Byway, one of the roads between Red Lodge, Montana and Yellowstone National Park's Northeast entrance, has been damaged by slides and its opening will be delayed until repairs have been completed. However, there is no need for travelers to alter vacation plans. Just 40 minutes from Red Lodge via Rt. 308 and MT 72/WY 120, the Chief Joseph Highway (WY 296) offers many of the same experiences as the Beartooth with spectacular mountain scenery and wildlife viewing. Historical markers at turn-outs along the scenic highway relate the story of the Nez Perce Indians who fled the Calvary in the late 1800s along this same route. Midway along the drive, a breathtaking gorge marks where the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River flows from the Beartooth Range and the Yellowstone Park area. Fourteen miles before Cooke City and the Northeast park entrance, the Chief Joseph Highway joins the Beartooth. Due to the absence of steep climbs and switchbacks on the Chief Joseph, travel time is no longer than via the Beartooth. All of the Beartooth in Wyoming is open and affords the traveling public spectacular views of the many lakes and streams in the high Beartooth Mountains.

The closure is from the Montana/Wyoming state line to 10 miles south of Red Lodge. Travelers are still able to go between Red Lodge and Cooke City via S-296, Chief Joseph Scenic Highway in Wyoming. This route adds 40 miles to the drive and is noted for its unique beauty. Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27, a team of ten professionals including landslide consultants, hydraulic engineers, geotechnical engineers and bridge engineers gained ground access for the first time to assess the damage. Crews were dropped off by helicopter and traversed the area on foot. There are still areas suspected to be unstable.

At this time it is believed five mudslides compromised the road in 12 places. Four of these sites are debris only, four are damage to the roadway, and four are major damage to the roadway. Additionally, other areas of roadway have been undermined by overland water flow.

MDT expects to have a general plan of action, including timelines, by June 3. This project is a priority and the department understands the importance of the Beartooth Highway to the affected communities and to the entire state of Montana. Information on the situation is limited at this time. If you have further questions, contact Charity Watt-Levis at 406.444.7205 (State Department in Helena)



      

Alternative Route from Red Lodge to Cooke City and into the Yellowstone Park