Project Overview
The Beartooth Ravine Bridge represents the culmination of nearly 50 years of continuous reconstruction efforts on one of America's most iconic mountain highways. Adams & Smith contributed structural engineering expertise to this landmark $25 million project on behalf of the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Federal Lands Highway Division, creating a 420-foot, three-span steel girder bridge that soars above the Beartooth Ravine at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet. This ambitious undertaking marks the completion of the "final reconstruction project" on the legendary Beartooth Highway (U.S. Route 212), transforming a challenging section of America's highest-elevation highway while enhancing safety, wildlife connectivity, and the visitor experience through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Experience the Highway: Aerial perspective of the legendary Beartooth Highway traversing the alpine wilderness
The Legendary Beartooth Highway
America's Most Beautiful Drive
The Beartooth Highway stands as one of the most spectacular engineering achievements in American transportation history:
- Original Construction: Built 1930-1938, an eight-year feat of Depression-era engineering
- Designation: All-American Road and National Scenic Byway
- Elevation: Highest highway in Wyoming (10,947 feet) and Montana (10,350 feet)
- Recognition: Called "the most beautiful drive in America" by CBS News correspondent Charles Kuralt
- Terrain: Traverses the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains through over one million acres of wilderness
- Natural Features: High alpine plateaus, 20 peaks above 12,000 feet, glacial lakes, waterfalls, and pristine forests
- Wildlife: Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, mountain goats, moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and mule deer
"A road like this would never be built today," noted WYDOT Public Relations Specialist Cody Beers, referencing the immense difficulty of constructing such a highway at extreme altitudes and its substantial environmental impact.
Wildlife Connectivity Enhancement
Creating Safe Passage for Grizzly Bears and Ungulates
A primary project objective was improving wildlife movement through the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem:
Critical Wildlife Corridor
- Beartooth Highway traverses one of the most important wildlife corridors in the continental United States
- Essential for genetic diversity and population health of grizzly bears, elk, moose, and other large mammals
- Previous narrow roadway and lack of underpass forced dangerous highway crossings
Underpass Design Features
- Generous clearance beneath the bridge structure allows safe passage for large animals
- Natural creek drainage maintains existing wildlife movement patterns
- Approach grading and vegetation guide animals toward the underpass
- Lighting and barrier systems minimize disturbance to crossing wildlife
WYDOT Chief Engineer Shelby Carlson emphasized: "The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which the Beartooth Highway traverses, is perhaps the most important wildlife corridor in the lower 48 states and key to the survival and success of many species of wildlife, including grizzly and black bear, moose, elk, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule and white-tailed deer, and others."
Construction Logistics in Extreme Terrain
Coordinated Alpine Operations
The project required extraordinary planning and execution in one of America's most challenging construction environments:
Construction Schedule
- Season 1 (2020): Foundation construction, pier erection, initial earthwork
- Season 2 (2021-2022): Steel girder installation, deck construction, approach work, final details
- Working six days per week (Sundays off for community consideration)
- Round-the-clock operations Monday through Thursday to maximize productivity
- Weather-dependent scheduling with frequent adjustments
Traffic Management
- Nighttime closures (8 PM 8 AM) on weeknights for critical operations
- Daytime delays up to 30 minutes with pilot car operations
- Friday and Saturday restricted to daytime-only work to accommodate weekend tourism
- Real-time traveler information via Wyoming 511 systems
- Coordination with Yellowstone National Park for regional traffic planning
Material Logistics
- All materials transported via the highway itself no alternate access routes
- Limited staging areas required careful sequencing
- Concrete delivery coordinated around traffic control windows
- Steel girder delivery required special permitting and escort
- Equipment mobilization maximized during spring highway opening period
Collaborative Funding Model
A Success Story in Public-Private Partnership
The project's $25 million budget represented an innovative funding collaboration:
Funding Sources
- $16.6 million: TIGER Grant (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) from 2017
- $9.3 million: Wyoming Department of Transportation federal highway funds
- $1.0 million: Yellowstone National Park direct contribution
- Balance: Reallocated from completed federal lands highway projects
"It's a great success story in the making," said Wyoming Transportation Commissioner Phil Schmidt. "The collaborative effort demonstrates what can be achieved when federal, state, and park agencies work together toward a common goal."
Budget Challenges Overcome
- Initial 2019 bids came in at $31.2 million nearly double available funding
- Project team redesigned to focus on bridge and essential elements
- Missouri River Contractors (Helena, Montana) agreed to honor bid while additional funding secured
- Strategic value engineering reduced costs without compromising safety or functionality
Enhanced Visitor Experience
New Scenic Overlooks and Amenities
The project dramatically improved the visitor experience along this world-famous scenic drive:
Scenic Pullout Features
- West Pullout: Located on the bridge itself, offering views of Beartooth Falls cascading to the north
- East Pullout: Positioned after crossing the bridge, providing dramatic perspectives of both the ravine and the new bridge structure
- Accessibility: Designed for safe vehicle access and pedestrian viewing
- Interpretation: Space for future interpretive signage about the highway's history and ecosystem
These pullouts address a longstanding need. Previously, visitors had no safe location to stop and experience the dramatic ravine crossing.
Visitor perspective: Experience the dramatic landscape and new bridge infrastructure
Environmental Stewardship
Protecting the Alpine Ecosystem
Extensive environmental considerations guided every aspect of the project:
Water Quality Protection
- Beartooth Creek erosion and sediment control throughout construction
- Stormwater management systems protect downstream aquatic habitats
- Construction timing avoided critical fish migration periods
- Post-construction revegetation with native alpine species
Habitat Preservation
- Minimal clearing of mature forest vegetation
- Protection of alpine meadow ecosystems during construction
- Wildlife monitoring throughout construction seasons
- Coordination with U.S. Forest Service biologists
Cultural Resources
- Consultation with tribal nations regarding the project area
- Archaeological monitoring during earth-disturbing activities
- Documentation of highway's historical significance
Project Completion & Ribbon-Cutting
Celebrating Two Decades of Planning
On September 22, 2022, project partners gathered at the newly constructed scenic pullout for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony:
Ceremonial Remarks
Curtis Scott, Chief of Engineering for the Federal Lands Highway Division, reflected on the project's long journey: "This opening is especially vindicating for our team. We first conceptualized the 420-foot Beartooth Ravine Bridge over two decades before construction began."
WYDOT Director Luke Renner emphasized the power of collaboration: "To go far, you go together. Without the partnership of the National Park Service, Federal Lands Highway Division, and numerous other agencies, these improvements would still be ideas on paper."
Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly connected the project to broader recovery efforts: "As Yellowstone recuperates from the most devastating natural disaster in the park's history [the June 2022 floods], I sleep well knowing that WYDOT is there."
Symbolic Moment
As ceremonial remarks concluded, the clouds parted and sunlight illuminated the completed Beartooth Ravine Bridge. The highway was closed for thirty minutes so everyone who made the project possible could walk across the structure, take in the views, and admire their collaborative achievement.
Results & Long-Term Impact
The completed Beartooth Ravine Bridge delivers transformative benefits for the region:
Safety Improvements
- Eliminated dangerous curves through improved horizontal alignment
- Added shoulders across full bridge length provide recovery space
- Enhanced sight distances at ravine approaches
- Modern barrier systems and guardrails
- 100+ year design life for all structural components
Wildlife Conservation
- Safe underpass routes for grizzly bears, elk, moose, and other large mammals
- Maintained natural movement patterns through critical corridor
- Reduced wildlife-vehicle conflicts
- Long-term monitoring framework established
Economic Development
- Reliable access maintained to Silver Gate, Cooke City, and Red Lodge, Montana
- Enhanced visitor experience supports regional tourism economy
- Reduced maintenance needs free resources for other highway needs
- Improved freight connectivity to Cody, Wyoming via Chief Joseph Highway
Project Recognition
- Completion of 50-year Beartooth Highway reconstruction program
- Model for alpine infrastructure projects in extreme environments
- Demonstration of successful multi-agency collaboration
- Template for incorporating wildlife connectivity into transportation projects
The Beartooth Steering Committee Legacy
Nearly 25 Years of Collaborative Planning
The Beartooth Ravine Bridge represents the culmination of an extraordinary long-term partnership:
Committee Composition
- Wyoming Department of Transportation
- Montana Department of Transportation
- Federal Highway Administration
- Central Federal Lands Highway Division
- Yellowstone National Park
- U.S. Forest Service (Shoshone and Custer Gallatin National Forests)
- Wyoming and Montana Congressional staff
- Tourism and community development organizations
- Conservation and environmental organizations
Historical Context
Reconstruction of the Beartooth Highway's seven segments began in the 1970s. This project in Segment 4 (Wyoming side) represents the final major reconstruction needed on the entire 68-mile route. The committee's patient, collaborative approach over nearly a quarter-century ensured that this last piece would be completed to the highest standards.
Engineering Excellence in Extreme Conditions
Technical Achievements
Structural Innovation
- Three-span continuous steel girder system optimized for site conditions
- Curved geometry integrated with natural terrain while meeting strict safety standards
- Connection details designed for extreme temperature ranges (-40°F to 90°F)
- Foundation design accounting for permafrost, rock outcrops, and seismic loads
Construction Achievement
- Successfully completed complex bridge construction at 10,000+ foot elevation
- Maintained highway access for thousands of visitors during construction
- Zero lost-time safety incidents despite challenging conditions
- Delivered on accelerated schedule to minimize impact on tourism season
Quality Assurance
- Factory inspection and testing of all structural steel components
- Field quality control for concrete placement in low-temperature conditions
- Non-destructive testing of critical connections
- As-built documentation for long-term maintenance planning
A Highway for the Ages
The completion of the Beartooth Ravine Bridge in September 2022 marks not just the end of a construction project, but the realization of a vision that began over two decades earlier. This achievement demonstrates the highest standards of alpine engineering while respecting the magnificent natural environment that makes the Beartooth Highway truly "America's Most Beautiful Drive."
As travelers now cross this elegant steel structure, pausing at the new scenic overlooks to witness Beartooth Falls or gaze into the depths of the ravine, they experience infrastructure that serves multiple masters: human safety and convenience, wildlife conservation, environmental protection, and the preservation of one of America's most treasured scenic resources.
The Beartooth Ravine Bridge stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when engineering excellence meets patient collaboration, adequate funding, and unwavering commitment to doing things right even when "right" means threading the needle at 10,000 feet above sea level.
Project Stats:
- Bridge Length: 420 feet
- Structure Type: Three-span continuous steel girder bridge
- Bridge Width: 30 feet (24-foot roadway plus shoulders)
- Span Configuration: Three continuous spans over Beartooth Ravine
- Elevation: Approximately 10,000 feet above sea level
- Retaining Walls: 20-foot-high mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structures
- Project Cost: $25 million
- Construction Duration: Summer 2020 September 2022
- Project Location: US Highway 212, Segment 4, approximately 14.5 miles east of WY-296 intersection
- Design Life: 100+ years
- Primary Contractor: Missouri River Contractors (Helena, Montana)
- Owner Agencies: Wyoming Department of Transportation, Federal Lands Highway Division
- Key Partners: Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone National Forest, Montana DOT
- Completion: Final ribbon-cutting ceremony September 22, 2022
- Funding Sources: TIGER Grant ($16.6M), WYDOT Federal Funds ($9.3M), Yellowstone NP ($1M)
- Highway Designation: All-American Road, National Scenic Byway
- Original Highway Construction: 1930-1938
- Reconstruction Program: 1970s 2022
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