Helena open lands work may affect trails this week

HELENA, Mont. — The City of Helena announced it began three open lands projects this week focused on trail connections, recreation and forest health.

According to the city staff began work on a reroute of the Oakes Street Park Trail. The current trail was set to stay open until the new section was finished, and then the old trail was to be retired.

People using the Virginia Dale Street Walkway and the South Oakes Connector Trail could see construction impacts while that work continued. The city said that project was expected to take about a week.

A second project was set to add a new connector between the Northwest Passage Trail and the Ambrose Trail in Mount Helena Natural Park. The city said people using those two trails were not expected to see impacts during construction.

Crews also began forestry work on the north face of Mount Ascension. That work included tree cutting, pruning and piling slash along parts of the Aftershock, 2006, Entertainment and Mount Ascension Loop trails.

The city said staff were putting up warning signs along affected trail sections to help protect public safety during that work. Trail closures were not expected at this time.

The Mount Ascension project was expected to take two to three weeks. Anyone with questions was asked to contact the City of Helena Parks and Recreation Department at (406) 447-8463.