Construction on a new parking area at the Duncan Drive Trailhead in the North Hills is planned to begin the week of Sept. 22, which will restrict some parking access to the area during the project, the city announced on Wednesday.
The trailhead project is meant to improve access to existing and new trails while adding parking spots and other amenities like a bike rack. The work is expected to be completed in mid-October.
“An improved trailhead at the end of Duncan Drive is a critical component of the project to address inadequate parking capacity, improve safety in the City right-of-way, and provide a more welcoming launch point for the system of existing and proposed trails,” the city’s website reads.
While work is underway, the trail will remain open to the public, although the city said in its release that people cannot park in the area. The Duncan Drive cul-de-sac will be closed for the construction project.
“Trail users are encouraged to travel to trailhead by foot or bike and/or use alternate trailheads, such as the Lincolnwood Trailhead and the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area main trailhead,” the city’s project webpage said.
In addition to the trailhead, the city will be building a new 1-mile loop trail connecting Duncan Drive Trailhead to the former Rattlesnake Dam site to the north.
The project is a part of a larger effort to improve recreation access surrounding the old Rattlesnake Dam site, which was first built in 1904 and removed by the city in 2020.
Funding for the project largely comes from a $100,000 grant from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, with a $20,000 match from the City of Missoula. Some of the work will also be done in-house by the city’s Parks and Recreation staff.
Other components of the project include tree removal, reseeding, a new bear-resistant trash can and some new fencing in the area.
Griffen Smith is the local government reporter for the Missoulian.
You must be logged in to react.
Click any reaction to login.
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Griffen Smith
City/County Government Reporter
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today