From May 6 to 23, the entire Shark Valley area at Everglades National Park will be closed day and night to all visitors for repaving of the entrance road, parking lot, and 15-mile tram road. The closure is necessary to ensure public safety during construction activities with heavy equipment and to enable the road surface to cure properly.
“While we recognize the inconvenience of this closure in the short-term, the long-term benefits are many," said Pedro Ramos, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks. “Resurfacing the asphalt is necessary for preserving the quality of the road and will provide a more enjoyable experience for hiking, biking, and riding the tram road."
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration is funding and managing the project through a contractor. Visitors who disregard the installed barricades, closure signs, and additional security measures will be subject to fines.
Visitors can still experience the Everglades by visiting one of the three airboat concessions on Tamiami Trail, the neighboring Miccosukee Cultural Center, or nearby Big Cypress National Preserve. The Homestead and Everglades City entrances to the park remain open with a variety of recreational opportunities.
Although tram tours and bicycle rentals will not be available during this time, Shark Valley Tram Tours will still accept online reservations for dates after May 23.
Shark Valley is scheduled to reopen on May 24.
Tags: closure shark valley
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service