Missoula County approves $100,000 parks bond spending for two trail engineering packages

Missoula County commissioners approved the expenditure of up to $100,000 from the 2014 county parks and trails bond to fund engineering packages for two trail projects: the Blue Mountain Connector shared-use path and an extension of the Mullen Road Trail.

Nick Zanetis of Parks and Trails told the commission the request will fund completing designs to about 95% for the two segments ahead of the Montana Department of Transportation transportation alternatives grant cycle opening in April. The Blue Mountain Connector is a 0.6-mile shared-use path that would extend from the Bitterroot Trail to Blue Mountain Recreation Area; the Mullen Road segment is a 2.5-mile extension from Cody Lane to Dayshaw that the county is breaking into manageable segments aligned with MDT corridor work.

The proposed contract with the consultant DJ&A would cover both engineering packages and include a project contingency of approximately 5 percent, Zanetis said. The board approved the request by voice vote.