Yellowstone National Park is seeking public comment on a project to replace a bridge across the Gallatin River along the Bighorn Pass Trail. This project would provide better accessibility to visitors, address safety issues in the area, and improve the visitor experience.

In September 2014, trail crews removed a footbridge crossing the Gallatin River that had deteriorated to a dangerous condition. Four options are being considered:

  1. The bridge would not be replaced. The crossing would be a river ford.
  2. The bridge would not be replaced but a new trail would be constructed along the route of a social trail to the bridge on the Fawn Pass Trail.
  3. A new bridge would be constructed in the location of the old bridge.
  4. A new bridge would be constructed and the social trail between Bighorn Pass and Fawn Pass trails would be formalized.

Public comments must be received by February 3, 2015. Comments can be submitted on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/footbridge, hand-delivered during normal business hours to the Mailroom in the park’s Administration Building in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, or mailed to Yellowstone National Park, Attn: Bighorn Trail Bridge, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Names and addresses of people who comment become part of the public record.