One of three entrances to Joshua Tree National Park will be temporarily closed for construction starting on Monday, April 7th and planned through Thursday, April 10th. The popular west gate entrance sees more traffic that the other two entrances; the entrace in Twentynine Palms and the Cottonwood entrance located on the south edge of the park.
That traffic and popularity is the reason for the temporary closure. Crews are preparing the area for paving and the construction of the new west entrance which will be located about 1/3rd of a mile south of the current one. According to an email newsletter from Superintendent Jane Rodgers, construction crews will be cutting into the current road to run utilities to the new entrance area as well as adjusting the grade of the road.
The closure includes the Maze Loop and Creosote trailhead parking areas. Visitors may not drive to or park at these trailheads during the closure. Northbound vehicles may turn around at Quail Springs Picnic Area and southbound vehicles may turn around at the current west entrance station, however it is suggested to avoid those areas altogether during the closure due to expected heavy traffic and turnarounds.
In 2023 over a half-million cars passed through the west entrance which can see backups stretching for miles down Quail Springs Road during the busy season. The new entrance station will have two inbound lanes and one outbound land, with a bypass in each direction. Instead of one entrance booth, there will be four. Superintendent Rogers says that the project is funded by fee revenue through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
All other roads in the park remain open. The less-visited Twentynine Palms entrance is located off Utah Trail and won’t be affected by this closure, and neither will the southern Cottonwood entrance.
Superintendent Rogers says that “The park recognizes this is a very busy time to close a section of road, but we must comply with the obligations set forth in our construction contract. The original closure was expected to last two weeks, and I’m glad it’s been reduced to just four days.”
