City Commissioners approved a $187,850 contract to WVH Enterprises during their May 5 meeting for the Kings Bridge deck replacement.

The city-owned bridge is on the River’s Edge Trail about 360 feet east of Black Eagle Dam.

The project includes removing and replacing about 165 feet of timber bridge decking from the former railroad bridge currently used as a pedestrian walkway on one of the most heavily used segments of the trail.

Park and Rec crews repair River’s Edge Trail mudslide

The trails division of Great Falls Park and Recreation identified the bridge deck as a safety priority for pedestrians and maintenance equipment, according to staff.

“In its current condition, several areas of the timber decking are deteriorated, creating safety risks for maintenance crews and tripping hazards for trail users. Since its original construction in 1902, maintenance efforts have included replacing individual timber members and filling gaps with road mix to extend the bridge’s service life; however, these measures are no longer a sustainable long-term solution. The proposed replacement will improve safety, reduce long-term maintenance costs, and extend the functional life of the bridge,” according to Park and Rec staff.

Three Great Falls area projects awarded River Fund grants [2025]

The existing decking will be replaced with new 4-inch by 6-inch No. 2 treated timbers and 2-inch by 8-inch pressure treated rim boards along both sides of the bridge decking planks to improve structural integrity and safety.

Removal and installation of decking will require temporary work platforms, fall protection systems and barricades, according to Park and Rec’s NWE grant application.

The city will attach the existing railing to new pressure treated mounting blocks, according to the project application.

The city received four bids for the project, ranging from $187,850 to $271,603.35 with WVH submitting the low bid, which was above the city’s original cost estimate of $119,600.

Two Great Falls projects picked for funding from NorthWestern Energy, River Fund [2023]

Initially, city staff planned to use $10,000 in park district funds and $15,000 in River’s Edge Trail Foundation funds as matching funds to support an application for NorthWestern Energy’s Missouri-Madison River Fund Grant, which provided $84,600 and NWE matched $10,000.

When bids came in over budget, Park and Rec staff discussed additional funding with the River’s Edge Trail Foundation, which approved an additional $67,000 toward the project and another $10,000 for contingencies.

That brings the foundation’s commitment to $82,000 with the option for another $10,000 if needed.

The city’s park district funding portion was increased to $10,900.

The Missouri-Madison River Fund Grant Program, implemented through the Missouri-Madison Comprehensive Recreation Plan, addresses ongoing needs for public recreation in the Missouri-Madison project area.

The fund was created as a public-private partnership among local government, state and federal agencies, and licensee of the Project 2188 Hydroelectric Project, River Fund grants and NWE matching funds are awarded annually for qualifying projects.

The River’s Edge Trail Foundation was established in 1989 as a nonprofit that works with partners to develop, extend and maintain River’s Edge Trail. A key foundation function is raising money for the applicant match required on important trail grants, according to Park and Rec.