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Upgrade Visitor Services at 3 Mile & North Afterbay River Boat Launch Sites
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area » Upgrade Visitor Services at 3 Mile & North Afterbay River Boat Launch Sites » Document List
The popularity of the Bighorn River as a premier trout fishery with visitations of 122,000 per year has shown the north river launch and 3 mile access to be important Park resources. The project represents the first major improvements to the two sites since the park was created in 1968. Since the sites were originally built, use by anglers and other visitors had dramatically increased. The two sites now support a high volume of traffic and are used by large recreational vehicles with trailers hauling boats. This has caused safety problems with vehicles sliding into the river at the ramp facilities and becoming stuck in ditches alongside the sites. In addition, parking is difficult and could be dangerous for all vehicles. As currently constructed, the launch ramps are subject to erosion, deteriorating road surfaces and flooding.
Both sites will be improved as part of the project, and the Afterbay access will be paved and bank protection added . Paving has to take place during warmer months of the year. In addition, the park will replace the current inadequate vault toilet with a larger ADA compliant vault toilet at the Afterbay site. Under a normal construction schedule, project construction could take up to five weeks at each site.
Both sites will benefit from adequately sized parking facilities, expanded overflow parking to protect resources during high use periods, improve drainage, and formalize parking to improve circulation between fishermen, boats, and vehicles.
7/13/11 Three Mile and Afterbay Parking Lot
Parking lot is finished at Three mile just finishing up the culvert and ditch there should be completely done by 7/14/11. Upper parking lot at Afterbay will be completed by 7/14/11 should be able to use parking lot through the weekend. Afterbay retaining wall should be completed by Friday evening 7/15/11. Restroom will be installed 7/21/11 if water level permits in the mean time portable toilets are located next to dumpster. Afterbay Parking lot will be closed on July 27th to July 28th for cement drain trough installation.
7/26/11 Three Mile and Afterbay Parking Lot
Afterbay retaining wall is completed, Restroom has been installed Afterbay Parking lot will be closed on July 27th to July 28th for cement drain trough installation and lay out of ADA parking.
7/30/11 Project work complete
Project 33717
PO Box 7458
Fort Smith MT 59035-7458
Both sites will be improved as part of the project, and the Afterbay access will be paved and bank protection added . Paving has to take place during warmer months of the year. In addition, the park will replace the current inadequate vault toilet with a larger ADA compliant vault toilet at the Afterbay site. Under a normal construction schedule, project construction could take up to five weeks at each site.
Both sites will benefit from adequately sized parking facilities, expanded overflow parking to protect resources during high use periods, improve drainage, and formalize parking to improve circulation between fishermen, boats, and vehicles.
7/13/11 Three Mile and Afterbay Parking Lot
Parking lot is finished at Three mile just finishing up the culvert and ditch there should be completely done by 7/14/11. Upper parking lot at Afterbay will be completed by 7/14/11 should be able to use parking lot through the weekend. Afterbay retaining wall should be completed by Friday evening 7/15/11. Restroom will be installed 7/21/11 if water level permits in the mean time portable toilets are located next to dumpster. Afterbay Parking lot will be closed on July 27th to July 28th for cement drain trough installation.
7/26/11 Three Mile and Afterbay Parking Lot
Afterbay retaining wall is completed, Restroom has been installed Afterbay Parking lot will be closed on July 27th to July 28th for cement drain trough installation and lay out of ADA parking.
7/30/11 Project work complete
Contact Information
Superintendent Jerry CaseProject 33717
PO Box 7458
Fort Smith MT 59035-7458