Zion National Park construction could cause delays

SALT LAKE CITY — Visitors using Zion National Park's east entrance could face delays as long as three hours because of a major road project that will begin in mid-May and possibly last through October.

About 2.7 million people visited the southwestern Utah park in 2009. Park spokesman Ron Terry says about one-third of the park's visitors use the east entrance.

While summer months are the busiest at the park, construction must be done then because of higher temperatures.

The project will cause delays and closures for drivers entering or leaving the park on State Road 9 between the east entrance and U.S. Highway 89 at Mount Carmel Junction.

Construction will be stopped at dawn and dusk to allow traffic through the affected area.