Acadia road updates

Acadia National Park reopened most of its 27-mile Park Loop Road to private vehicles on April 15, but one stretch will stay shut until June 12. (nps.gov) The closed section runs from Kebo Street to Sieur de Monts, and the National Park Service said drivers will detour out to Mount Desert Street and Main Street on Route 3 before re-entering the loop. (nps.gov) The National Park Service said that segment is closed so crews can replace an undersized culvert in Great Meadow and connect new park housing to the town wastewater system. Memorial Day weekend is the one planned exception before the full June 12 reopening. (publicnow.com) The road update lands as Acadia shifts from its off-season traffic pattern into the spring visitor season. Park officials told visitors to plan ahead for 2026 summer crowds as vehicle access expands across the park. (publicnow.com) Another Acadia road remains on a separate construction schedule: Cadillac Summit Road is closed through April 30 from the Park Loop Road to just before the summit parking area. Vehicle reservations for Cadillac Summit Road are also required from May 21 through October 26. (nps.gov; nps.gov) About 2,000 miles west, Rapid City is marking April 13 through April 20 as Dark Sky Week, a city-backed campaign to cut unnecessary outdoor lighting and improve night-sky viewing. (kotatv.com) Rapid City’s current mayor is Jason Salamun, according to the city’s mayoral page. An earlier city proclamation under former mayor Steve Allender urged residents and businesses to use lighting practices that reduce sky glow and protect wildlife and ecosystems. (rcgov.org; rcgov.org) The two updates point to the same spring tourism calendar in different ways: Acadia is reopening roads while Rapid City is asking people to look up after dark. In both places, officials are tying visitor access to infrastructure and conservation rules that will stay in place beyond this week. (nps.gov; kotatv.com)