Missoula, MT – As winter approaches, residents and visitors of Missoula will soon have a safer, more accessible way to enjoy the Bitterroot Branch Trail, thanks to a new $1.6 million lighting project approved by the Missoula Redevelopment Agency (MRA). The project will install 182 streetlamps along nearly three miles of the trail, which stretches from South Reserve Street north to the Milwaukee Trail.
The Bitterroot Branch Trail is a key north-south route in Missoula, serving as an important pedestrian and cyclist path. However, it has long been limited by its lack of lighting, which makes it difficult to use during the darker winter months. The addition of streetlights will allow users to safely traverse the trail at all hours of the day and night, improving overall public safety.
Annette Marchesseault, project manager with MRA, explained that the city’s parks department had originally hoped to complete the lighting project before this winter. However, the project’s timeline was delayed due to the need for careful planning and coordination with Montana Rail Link to secure easements. “We didn’t want to put lights in that would conflict with the long-term plan to widen the trail,” Marchesseault said.
The project will light the section of the trail that runs through Urban Renewal Districts II and III. The MRA, which oversees development in these districts, set several priorities for District II in 2022, including infrastructure improvements like the Bitterroot railroad trestle conversion for pedestrian use and the stabilization of the Clark Fork River’s banks. This lighting project is part of that broader vision.
The lighting project has been awarded to DJ’s Electric, which submitted a low bid of $1.49 million. Despite the low price, Marchesseault assured the public that the contractor is well-qualified. “It’s a very good bidding season,” she noted. “Sometimes super low bids can indicate the bidder doesn’t understand the product or they make up the difference with change orders, but DJ’s Electric is a quality contractor with the capacity to complete the work successfully.”
Though the lighting installation will be a welcome improvement for users of the Bitterroot Branch Trail, the project is just one part of a larger revitalization effort in Missoula’s Urban Renewal Districts. As part of the city’s long-term plans, the parks department will also work to widen the trail to accommodate more users and provide a better experience for all.
With construction set to begin soon, Missoula residents can look forward to brighter, safer walks and rides along the Bitterroot Branch Trail starting next winter.
