Grand Canyon National Park - 2009 Visitor Center and Mather Point Road Construction Project (U.S. National Park Service)

Aerial view of Mather Point with traffic.

nps photo

Aerial View of Mather Point on a busy day.

What is Taking Place ?

Construction is now taking place on Visitor Improvements outlined in Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim Visitor Transportation Plan.

The improvements are addressing significant parking shortages which are causing resource degradation issues, safety risks due to pedestrian/vehicular conflicts at and around Mather Point, and difficulty accessing the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, located at Canyon View Information Plaza (CVIP).

List of the work that is being done.

When is This Taking Place ?

Construction on Phase I of the project began May 1, 2009 and is expected to be completed by December 2009.

All shuttle bus service is now operating from the west end of the Visitor Center (or Canyon View Plaza) complex. The South Kaibab (green) and Village (blue) routes will drop-off and pick-up at the shuttle bus stop at the west end of the complex.

Now that the transition to the new South Entrance Road alignment has been completed: (as of September 11, 2009)

parking at Mather Point has been re-opened with access from the west end of the parking lot only
the park’s free shuttle system will continue to serve the Visitor Center from the shuttle stop on the west end of the Visitor Center plaza.
commercial tour vehicles will continue to park in the new commercial tour bus lot west of the Visitor Center and will access this parking lot via the new road alignment.

Construction on the Phase I improvements will continue - now that the transition to the new South Entrance Road alignment is completed. The remaining improvements include:

the completion of three visitor parking lots that will provide convenient Visitor Center parking for up to 600 vehicles; and
irrigation, rehabilitation and revegetation of disturbed areas.

Construction on these improvements is expected to be completed by December 2009.

List of Improvements to be Completed by Dec. 2009:

realignment of the South Entrance Road to loop around CVIP to the south and west
three new visitor parking lots with which will provide parking for up to 600 vehicles
a new parking lot which will provide parking for 40 commercial tour buses
a new shuttle bus staging area at the existing Visitor Center area transit pavilion
improvements to manage storm water
extensive revegetation of areas to be restored

How Will This Construction Effect My Visit ?

During the entire construction project, visitors will continue to have access to the Mather Point area, the park’s Visitor Center, and the Grand Canyon Association’s Books and More bookstore at Canyon View Information Plaza.

Two routes of the park’s accessible shuttle bus system, South Kaibab (green) and Village (blue) will continue to stop at Canyon View Information Plaza and parking will continue to be available in the CVIP area for commercial tour buses.

Mather Point Accessible Van
The accessible van service has ended for the 2009 season.

Intermittent traffic delays and some periodic vehicular and pedestrian detours can be expected during construction.

Alternate routes and parking locations will be signed accordingly; and the National Park Service will make every effort to provide advance notice of traffic changes to lessen any impacts to visitors.