The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued the following press release:
In Gardiner, Montana, the Custer Gallatin National Forest is preparing to replace the Darroch Creek Bridge on Bear Creek Road #493. The road will be closed from mid-July for approximately a month to facilitate this replacement. The bridge sustained severe damage during the flooding in June 2022, and the new bridge aims to restore access to the Bear Creek Campground and Bear Creek Trailhead.
During the construction, Bear Creek Road #493 will be off-limits from the intersection of Ash Mountain Road #6976 to the Bear Creek Trailhead, including access to the Bear Creek Campground. Hikers wanting to explore Bear Creek Trail #64 towards Knox Lake are advised to park at the North Fork of Bear Creek Trailhead in Jardine and connect to trail #64 via trail #364.
District Ranger Mike Thom of the Gardiner District stated, “While we understand the inconveniences these closures may cause, we ask for the cooperation of forest visitors in the interest of public safety. We are eager to begin this essential recovery effort post-flood.”
The replacement project for the Darroch Creek Bridge will involve the installation of a more resilient and modern precast concrete bridge that meets current design standards. This project will ultimately restore vehicle access to the Bear Creek Campground, which has been inaccessible to vehicles since the flood-related damage in 2022.
For the most up-to-date information on the project, we encourage the public to follow the Custer Gallatin National Forest Facebook page and direct any questions to the Gardiner Ranger District at 406-848-7375.
