VCNP News:
Jemez Springs — Valles Caldera National Preserve will begin making improvements to the preserve’s main entrance road starting next Tuesday. The road improvement work is being implemented using Congressional funding provided to the National Park Service to reduce its deferred maintenance backlog. Visitors can expect minor traffic delays and congestion while the road work occurs over the next two to three weeks.
The road improvements will start at the preserve’s main entrance near mile marker 39 on NM State Route 4 and continue for two miles to the preserve’s entrance station. The first phase of work will involve adding a base course of gravel to the existing road. Additional work, planned for later this summer, will add a final layer of gravel mix to create a more permanent driving surface. It is anticipated that the work will greatly improve road conditions for visitors and reduce future maintenance costs.
“The work on the entrance road is among the first of many projects we hope to implement over the next few years to improve visitor access and experience at Valles Caldera,” said Jorge Silva-Bañuelos, the preserve’s superintendent. “We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience while this work is on-going.”
About Valles Caldera National Preserve
About 1.25 million years ago, a spectacular volcanic eruption created the 13-mile wide circular depression now known as Valles Caldera. The preserve is known for its huge mountain meadows, abundant wildlife and meandering streams. The area also preserves the homeland of ancestral native peoples and embraces a rich ranching history. Visit us at www.nps.gov/vall and on Facebook www.facebook.com/Vall esCaldera/.
About the National Park Service
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebookwww.facebook.com/natio nalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlpa rkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nation alparkservice.