Badlands Road Reopens After 6 Years, Wildlife Returns

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota is celebrating the reopening of a significant 6-mile segment of its scenic loop road. This iconic route, closed for over six years due to extensive storm damage and erosion, will once again allow visitors to experience the rugged beauty of the Badlands and encounter local wildlife. The closure had previously limited access to key viewpoints, but the completion of reconstruction marks a return to full accessibility.

The closure, which began in spring 2019, necessitated a major overhaul of the roadway. The National Park Service undertook a comprehensive reconstruction effort, addressing sinkholes and slope instability. This involved intricate engineering to stabilize the road along steep bluffs, including drainage improvements and pavement resurfacing. The project spanned approximately two and a half years and concluded in October.

This reopening is particularly timely, coinciding with the upcoming July 4 grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The $51 million project was largely financed by the Great American Outdoors Act, underscoring its importance for preserving national park infrastructure. The restored road is expected to enhance the visitor experience for the over 700,000 people who annually visit North Dakota's top tourist attraction.