11.25.25

Hoeven & NPS Reopen TRNP Scenic Loop Following Major Restoration

Senator Highlights Completion of Multi-Year Infrastructure Project at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

MEDORA, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and the National Park Service (NPS) today reopened the Scenic Loop Road in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s (TRNP) south unit, celebrating the completion of a multi-year reconstruction project. A segment of the roadway, a key route for park visitors, had partially collapsed in 2019 due to unstable soil conditions in the Badlands.

Since then, Hoeven:

  • Worked to fund the 6.15-mile reconstruction through the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation he sponsored and helped pass as part of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA).
    • The GAOA established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, authorizing up to $1.9 billion in funding over five years through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2025.
    • The fund leverages revenue from on- and offshore energy production on federal lands, without impacting mineral and energy revenue shared with the states.
  • Secured $51.25 million to fund the Scenic Loop reconstruction, including $50.8 million from the Restore Our Parks Act (GAOA) and $450,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
    • Construction began in 2022 and quickly became a major engineering effort. After the initial 4-mile section collapsed, NPS discovered an additional 2 miles were unstable and likely to fail.
    • The project included enhanced landslide mitigation, drainage improvements, and expanded infrastructure and parking to improve visitor accessibility.

“Reopening the Scenic Loop is an important milestone for Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who travel here each year,” said Hoeven. “This restoration not only repairs the roadway but also strengthens the park’s infrastructure for decades to come, addressing erosion and landslide risks and preserving the park’s most iconic routes for future generations to enjoy.” 

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