Trail Sections

BikeNet Newsletter

25th St. Pedestrian / Bike Bridge

08.14.2002
Montana Rail Link tracks have created a split in the downtown Billings area between the North and the South sides. As part of the Downtown Billings Framework Plan, it identified a need for a pedestrian/bike link or bridge over the MRL tracks in the location of 25th St. This bridge would tie in with the BikeNet trail system that provides a corridor from the trail along the Yellowstone River into the downtown historic district of Billings. This bridge would also provide access to land available for needed parking on the south side of MRL tracks.

BikeNet and historic preservation proponents have an opportunity to acquire a vintage 1901 Carnegie steel bridge now stored at Joliet, Montana. Proponents envision the 25th Street Bridge as a monumental tourist attraction, adorned with artistic elements to commemorate the settling of the West. Funds are currently being sought to purchase and move the bridge, and to cover engineering and construction costs to install the bridge, build an elevator shaft and stairway and install side/overhead barriers. The estimated cost of the project is $578,500 and we have received funds or pledges from the Gazette, Lee Foundation, Homer & Mildred Scott Foundation, the Parking lot Development + Lease, Maintenance, Downtown Partnership & Parking Board, Community Trails Bond Issue, & BikeNet contribution funds. We also submitted an application to The Murdock Foundation and if we get favorable results from them, we could begin construction of the bridge.

The City of Billings and Yellowstone County have signed a contract with JTL Construction Company to build the trail project from Coulson Park to Mystic Park with a bike route into downtown Billings. The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held at Coulson Park on Tuesday, June 11 with a joint effort by Jim Reno from the County Board and Shirley McDermott from the City Council doing the honorary shovel routine. The crews from JTL were already working moving dirt and grading the area for the trail and trailhead parking facility. Despite the cool, windy weather there was a group of folks that forged out to watch this monumental moment.

If you have been tracking recent events in regards to the trail connection, there has been some controversy about the bike route along So. 25th Street. The business owners in this area were disturbed that the bike lane was being milled out and resurfaced to provide a smooth surface for bike riders when they have been waiting for years to have their streets resurfaced. If you haven't been in the area, there are numerous pot holes and the streets are in bad need of repair. The City had scheduled to resurface these streets but in the process realized that the sewer and water systems also need to be replaced. In reviewing this work, there has been considerable discussion with the land owners if the whole Gateway Triangle area (So.26th to So.21st and from Conoco to Minnesota Ave.) should be reconfigured into more of an Industrial Park area which would require less water and sewer connection then the existing block/grid system and possible make better use of the land. A consulting study is being planned for this area, but in the meantime the bike connection is moving forward as this project has been on the drawing board for some time. In order to help minimize the problem, the City has offered to not only rework the bike lane but also the area of the street from the edge of the bike lane to the curb which is designated as the parking lane. By adding this section on to the bike project it will reduce the business and land owners SID responsibility for a portion of the cost of the street and also eliminate the need to redo that section when they final are able to resurface the rest of the street. The new sewer and water pipes will eventually run down the center of So. 25th St. Despite the city's offer, the businesses still do not want the bike lane located on So. 25th St. because they generate truck traffic that they fear could lead to an accident with bicycle traffic.

The reason So. 25th was chosen for the bike connection was because one of the only breaks in the Interstate to connect the Riverfront with the Downtown is the underpass by PPL Montana (the former Montana Power Corrette Plant). 27th Street is too busy of a street for a bike route and 26th Street does not go through and 25th lines up relatively well with the underpass. Plus a bike/ped bridge is proposed over the MRL railroad tracks at So. 25th St. to make the connection into the Billings Historic District by The Depot and would accomodate a parking lot on the Minnesota Ave. side of the tracks. Currently So. 25th is the only area besides So. 22nd that has space on both sides of the track to facilitate the bridge structure.

By the time this newsletter gets printed and sent out, hopefully this issue will be resolved, but at least this gives you some idea of the complexity of the situation. Even though there has been a crimp in this phase, the section of trail between Coulson Park and Mystic Park is still moving forward. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me a call at 247-8637.

Additional Update: On Monday, July 8, 2002 the City Council voted to approved the change order for the grinding and paving on 25th St. for the additional parking lane from the bike lane to the curb on both sides of the street. Interstate Engineering will hold a public meeting to explain the process and to reschedule a new start up date.

Darlene Tussing Alternate Modes Coordinator
4th Floor Planning Office
510 No. Broadway
Billings, MT 59101 406.247.8637
tussingd@ci.billings.mt.us