| Contacts: | Stephen Baker 505.954.2022 |
Tent Rocks Monument Reopening Delayed to Mid-August
Albuquerque, N.M. – Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument will remain closed until mid-August while construction crews finish paving the road to the monument. The contractor expects the road to be completely finished by August 20, 2010, and hopes the monument can reopen a few days earlier if work stays on schedule and there are no more weather delays.
Heavy summer rains flooding the road and construction area have delayed the project.
“We appreciate the public being patient while we continue with the road construction,” said Ed Singleton, BLM Albuquerque District Manager. “The crews are working hard and making good progress, and we look forward to inviting the public back out to Tent Rocks soon.”
The purpose of the paving is to improve the quality of the road, reduce the need to close after heavy rain and snow, and minimize the dust stirred up from the current five mile dirt road.
During the monument’s closure, the public is encouraged to consider alternative BLM recreational sites, many of which are within a short drive of the monument.
More information about the road and monument closure, as well alternative recreational sites, can be found at www.blm.gov/nm/TentRocksClosure. The public is encouraged to check the website frequently for updates and information about the reopening.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.