Final demolition begins at old Rainier visitor center
THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Visitors to Paradise last week noticed that the final work to demolish the old Jackson Visitor Center has begun. Crews were knocking down the last of the lower walls. During the work, the lower parking area is closed.
Crews also have to remove two 10,000-gallon diesel heating oil tanks. The work is expected to be completed by early to mid-July.
When that’s done, a second contractor will complete the final grading, construct new concrete sidewalks and curbs, and place new asphalt for access into an expanded parking level at the location of the south half of the old building footprint. That will expand the lower lot parking capacity from 136 spaces to about 230. There also will be an expanded pedestrian plaza. This work will likely get under way by late July and be completed by late August or early September.
• Road work began as scheduled Monday in two spots in the park. Crews are repairing a small washout on the road to Paradise on Glacier Hill. Work also is being done on the larger slide on Stevens Canyon Road. Traffic will be able to get through the Glacier Hill work zone, but Stevens Canyon Road is closed at Box Canyon and Grove of the Patriarchs.
• A campground update: All four loops and the group sites are open at Cougar Rock; at Ohanapecosh, A, B, C, D, E and H loops are open while crews are still working on site cleanup and wastewater issues in F and G loops; and the White River camp is scheduled to open June 26.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, The News Tribune
