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Work begins<br>at Mather Point

GCNP — The most visible sign that change is coming to the Mather Point area can now be seen by locals and visitors with work beginning this week around South Entrance Road.

D.L. Norton, the contractor working on CVIP, began work on the east end of the Mather Point parking area on Monday.

D.L. Norton workers put up a fence in the Mather Point parking lot.

"We’re putting in a pedestrian crossing from Canyon View across South Entrance Road extending pathways out to the rim," said Tim Madeira, project manager. "We’re putting in handicap access over on the north side of South Entrance Road out, adjacent to the first parking slot at Mather Point."

The handicap access pathway will be asphalt and will include stone path edgings like the rest of the site, Madeira said.

Madeira said the area will be impacted for a month, with the target date of completion being Oct. 15. CVIP will hold its grand opening celebration on Oct. 26.

During the construction period, signs will be placed on the roadway notifying approaching vehicles of the construction and reduced speed. Traffic control along South Entrance Road will also be in place to slow traffic in the zone.

Maureen Oltrogge, public affairs officer for Grand Canyon National Park, said there will be at least one day of activity on the road to stripe and to cut rumble strips.

The rumble strips, Madeira said, will be put in where the path was extended to South Entrance Road. These strips warn vehicles of the upcoming crosswalk and are intended to slow down traffic.

Striping will be painted to identify the crosswalk for pedestrians and drivers. Cautionary signage will also be installed.

South Entrance Road leading up to Mather Point will eventually be closed to private vehicle traffic. Only commercial bus tours will be allowed to access the parking lot area.

Working in the road/parking lot area around Mather Point is one of the final phases involving the preparation of CVIP for its opening next month. The orientation center was built with intentions of improving the visitor experience.

Grand Canyon National Park will be in a transition phase over the next three to four years until the scheduled implementation of a light-rail transportation system.


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