Construction on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Avenue of Flags is near completion.
The project is part of a larger effort to improve the facilities and grounds at the iconic mountain carving. The work has been ongoing for two years at a cost of $10 million.
Michelle Wheatley is the superintendent of Mount Rushmore.
“It was really exciting last weekend just Friday afternoon we were able to take down part of the construction fence that has been up for two years and open up the Avenue of Flags which is just absolutely amazing for people to be able to spread out and experience the flags waving in the wind,” Wheatley says.
Finishing touches on the concrete and stone walkways are still needed before the public is granted full access.
Blaine Kortemeyer is the acting chief of interpretation at Mount Rushmore.
“If you recall, our old avenue of flags, the multi-pillars that were in the walkway so it was kind of difficult to walk through them and on busy days it would get pretty crowded,” Kortemeyer says.
“Having moved the flags to the outside and widening the walking surface by five to six feet gives us unimpeded travel all the way up the avenue to the terrace which is of course the roof of the visitor’s center.”
Kortemeyer says the Avenue of Flags renovation will be done in mid-June. It will be open for public access on June 18.