Theodore Roosevelt National Park scenic road repaired after 6 years

The iconic South Unit Scenic Road at Theodore Roosevelt National Park has reopened to the public after six years of closure, restoring one of North Dakota’s most photographed drives. The route, carved into dramatic badlands and offering sweeping overlooks, has been rebuilt to withstand the volatile terrain that forced managers to close it in 2019.

Visitors can once again roll along the roughly six-mile stretch that links the East River Road intersection with the Old East Entrance pull-off, taking in Scoria Point, Badlands Overlook and the rugged sandstone vistas that drew Theodore Roosevelt to the region decades before he became president.

What was done to make the road safe again

Construction crews tackled a complex slate of repairs to reopen the corridor. Work focused on long-term resilience rather than quick fixes.

• Drainage upgrades: Old culverts and runoff channels were replaced and expanded to handle intense rain events that had eroded the roadway.
• Road base reconstruction: Layers under the asphalt were rebuilt to stabilize the surface where the ground had shifted or washed away.
• Asphalt resurfacing: A new driving surface was laid across the six-mile segment to provide a smooth, durable ride for visitors and park vehicles.
• Emergency access improvements: The project added features to speed response times for park staff and first responders on the park’s east side.

The engineering hurdles of building on badlands

Project managers described the job as more akin to building on a cliff than repaving a country road. The route hugs steep buttes and sits on friable sandstone prone to slumping and slide events. Stabilizing those slopes and designing foundations that could resist ongoing ground movement required specialized geotechnical work and inventive structural solutions.

A North Dakota senator noted the scale of the technical challenge, comparing the effort to bridge-building because of the steep, unstable slopes and the clever engineering needed to secure the roadway long-term.

How long and how much

The campaign to reopen the scenic loop spanned several seasons of heavy construction and cost the park a substantial sum. In total, the restoration used about $51 million drawn from a federal parks fund and state transportation support to repair the damaged corridor after years of deterioration.

Funding sources and national park investment

The largest chunk of funding came through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, a national program that channels energy-development revenue into park maintenance and infrastructure projects. The GAOA package authorized up to $6.5 billion over five years to tackle deferred repairs across the National Park System, and the Theodore Roosevelt work is among many projects financed by that initiative.

• Legacy Restoration Fund: Primary funding source for the South Unit work.
• Department of Transportation contributions: Supplemental funding and coordination for road engineering and resurfacing.

Why the road matters to the park and the region

The South Unit Scenic Road is a major draw inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park; before its closure, roughly 100,000 vehicles used the road each year as part of their park visit. The park as a whole saw about 733,000 visitors in 2024, and those visitors are estimated to have generated around $56 million in economic impact for surrounding communities last year, according to National Park Service figures.

Restoring the route not only returns a much-loved visitor experience but also supports local businesses and improves safety for park guests and staff who travel the park’s east side.

A short history of the scenic drive

The South Unit route has roots in New Deal-era conservation work; it was originally constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Over the decades it became one of the park’s signature features, threading through sculpted badlands and providing access to overlooks where visitors can view prairie, river cuts and wildlife.

Theodore Roosevelt himself became enamored of the Dakotas long before his presidency, later crediting time in the badlands with renewing his health and shaping his character—an association the park preserves and interprets for modern visitors.

More national park stories to watch

For readers interested in other recent national park developments, here are a few items gaining attention:

• Trail cameras capture a nearly vanished red fox species in a national park after years without sightings.
• Researchers find fluorescent minerals in Wind Cave National Park that could offer clues about life on icy moons such as Europa.
• U.S. national parks are receiving a record gift to address deferred maintenance, helping protect fragile habitats and infrastructure.

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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.