BILLINGS, Montana - The Bureau of Reclamation will replace the aging suspension bridge located at Barrett’s Diversion Dam, 8 miles south of Dillon, Montana in the fall of 2020. The pedestrian bridge was built in the late 1970’s by the Youth Conservation Corps under the direction of Reclamation to allow access over the Beaverhead River and open up additional recreation areas on the east side of the river.
During a bridge inspection; Reclamation inspectors identified wood decay that led engineers to concerns regarding structural integrity. These findings led to the development of potential corrective actions, but repairing the existing bridge was determined to be cost prohibitive. Therefore, the bridge will be replaced in its entirety with a free span steel pedestrian bridge.
“Public safety at our recreation facilities are very important to Reclamation," said Steve Davies, Area Manager for Reclamation’s Montana Area Office. “Replacing the pedestrian bridge was the right choice for the public to continue to enjoy Barrett’s Park in a safe manner."
Construction will start sometime this fall and is expected to be completed by November. For safety reasons, access to the area will be limited during the construction process.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
