The National Park Service announced Monday that it will begin repairs and improvements to the Cruz Bay Visitor Center, bulkhead, pier, and a portion of Cruz Bay Creek.

Construction work will begin this month and continue through August 2023, NPS said. The Visitor Center will remain open during most of the construction, except for a few weeks in the spring of 2023.

According to the release, visitors will be able to access the Visitor Center on foot from Cruz Bay or by car, utilizing the parking adjacent to the Visitor Center and abiding by the posted parking regulations. The Park’s public restrooms and pavilion will remain open to the public throughout the renovation. The pier and bulkhead will be closed during construction and dredging from January through August 2023. During the closure, boats will not be able to access the bulkhead or pier. Boaters should comply with all posted signs and remain clear of ongoing marine work.

NPS said Hurricanes Maria and Irma hit St. John in 2017, damaging facilities in the park, including the visitor center. Funding from the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria recovery, recreation fees collected from the park’s expanded amenity fees at Trunk Bay and the mooring program, and other National Park Service programs are making these repairs and upgrades possible. The repairs will increase the resiliency of the visitor center against future storms and make the pier area safer and more secure for visitors and staff.

The NPS headquarters operations have been relocated to other facilities within the park during the construction timeframe.

The NPS will provide additional information as the construction schedule is refined.

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