Road reopens as Yellowstone monitors new thermal feature

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Yellowstone National Park officials have reopened the Upper Terrace Drive, which was temporarily closed so scientists could monitor a new thermal feature that was edging up the roadway.

Crews installed temporary concrete barriers and eliminated three parking spaces around the thermal feature near Mammoth Hot Springs to help protect it from visitors and vehicles. The road was reopened Monday.

Rangers roped off the road July 15 after considerable heat was being generated under the surface. Scientists have been watching the area's thermal activity since May and measured a temperature as high as 152 degrees.

Two holes 20 inches deep were drilled into the pavement, and thermal water is now streaming at about a gallon a minute from one of them.