This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Cheyenne, Wyo. • A public-private effort to plow roads in Yellowstone National Park and open two park entrances for the spring season on time despite federal budget cuts is nearing a golden spike moment.
Wyoming Department of Transportation crews are clearing snow through Yellowstone's East and South entrances, working toward park crews plowing in their direction. Federal and state crews could connect on the East Entrance Road as soon as Thursday.
The Cody Country Chamber of Commerce and town of Jackson have pooled $171,000 to hire the state snow-clearing crews. The goal is to open the East gate May 3 and South gate May 10 as had been planned before federal budget cuts took effect in March.
The cuts caused park officials to delay spring plowing and the gate openings by two weeks.