Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly says it could take 3 to 5 years to replace roads damaged by flooding last month, but that temporary fixes could be completed within months.
Sholly offered the projections Friday after touring damaged areas of the nation’s first national park with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
Earlier in the day, Haaland met with Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte to tour flood damage in Gardiner.
Gardiner is one of the gateways to Yellowstone and depends on the park for its tourism, but has been cut off since the June flooding washed out the road into the park.
A temporary road from Gardiner has been built for essential travel and some guided tours with officials saying it potentially could be opened to visitors before winter.