Drop-Dead Gorgeous Road in Theodore Roosevelt Nat. Park Finally Repaired After 6 Years

Drop-Dead Gorgeous Road in Theodore Roosevelt Nat. Park Finally Repaired After 6 Years

A view from the South Unit Scenic Loop – credit, National Parks Service One of the most beautiful drives in the Midwest, the South Unit Scenic Road in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) has finally reopened after a 6-year closure. The reconstruction required a $51 million investment from an important park fund and the Dept. of Transportation, as well as a level of engineering that a North Dakota Senator described as “remarkable.” Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the South Unit Scenic Road passed through TRNP and allowed visitors to reach sites like the Scoria Point Overlook and Badlands Overlook. It grew into one of the most popular attractions inside the park, which itself is the most popular attraction in North Dakota. Over time, however, the precarious terrain of the roadway began to break down. The project repaired the section of the loop from the East River Road intersection to the Old East Entrance Station pull-off, about 6 miles in total. Due to rain damag…