A project that has been in the works in Great Falls since the mid-1990s will soon get started.
The project is part of the River’s Edge Trail under the railroad bridge on River Drive South.
River’s Edge Trail Foundation President Bruce Pollington said, “It’s always been a really difficult transition getting from the trail upstream to the trail downstream and the transition under the railroad bridge is equally difficult and expensive, so that’s why it’s taken so long for us to get to that. But it’s vital to the connection of the trail throughout the city.”
Pollington added that while the problem has been looked at since the start of the trail, it has been challenging and expensive to solve. They decided to spent their money on other trail projects.
But now that the project is underway, it’s become too critical to not complete.
With help of Scheels and various other Great Falls businesses, funds have come together to get the project done.
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will handle the trail’s construction.
Pollington said, “What we presented to them is conceptual, architectural plans, engineering plans of the entire site. But now they have to go back and reassess the location.”
After reassessing the site, MDT will then enter it into their construction timeline.
While there is not a set completion date, Pollington anticipates MDT will at minimum assess the site and work on their final plan this summer.
He added, “Whether they’ll actually start moving some dirt this summer, I hesitate to guess, maybe.”
