The new trail connects the trail along Montana Highway 83 to the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge before Seeley-Swan High School on Locust Lane.
SEELEY LAKE – Construction has begun on a new trail connecting Montana Highway 83 to the curbed sidewalk just west of Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) on Locust Lane. The project is funded by Missoula County through a combination of Federal Community Transportation Enhancement and county road funds. No county parks bond funding has been used.
According to Missoula County Director of Public Works Greg Robertson, the location was identified years ago as a potential project.
"It made sense to connect the Highway 83 trail with the improvements constructed by the Montana Department of Transportation when the bridge was replaced several years ago," wrote Robertson in an email to the Pathfinder.
The bid for the project was let in March and was awarded to Russell Excavation of Missoula, Mont. They have 45 days to complete the contract but hope to be done sooner.
The trail will be an asphalt trail primarily for non-motorized bicycles and pedestrians. Robertson expects snowmobiles will use it in the winter as well.
This segment of trail was not a priority for the Seeley Lake Trails Committee who has been working to get a trail behind the SSHS on Airport Road. According to Robertson that project behind the high school is more recreational than transportation related and it still has some right-of-way issues that have not been resolved.
"I don't think this project [behind the high school] would have been eligible for federal funding based on the rules at the time," wrote Robertson.
"It will be a really nice addition to the community," said Ron Cox, Chair of the Seeley Lake Trails Committee. "I hope the county will continue to develop the pathway along airport road to Frontier Drive"
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