C.F. bike path work ready to begin

City officials in Columbia Falls hope to move forward this fall on the Third Avenue East bike path.

The city held a public hearing on the proposed bike path Aug. 8 and is now accepting bids to complete the project.

City Manager Susan Nicosia said she hopes to award a contract for the construction at the Sept. 19 City Council meeting. The goal is to complete the work this fall.

“It’s all dependent on the weather, but that’s the push,” Nicosia said.

“If it’s good they will at least rough in the path and hopefully paving will occur in October. If not, it will get done in the spring,” she said.

The Third Avenue East bike path, with a total estimated cost of about $197,000, will run from U.S. 2 to River’s Edge Park.

Most of the funding for the project comes from the federal Community Transportation Enhancement Program, leaving the city with an estimated local match of $26,000.

In August, the city completed the addition of a dedicated walking and bike path lane on 13th Street.

The paved and striped path runs along 13th Street from 12th Avenue West to Fourth Avenue West.

The street had to be widened to accommodate the dedicated walking and bike path lane from 12th Avenue West to the high school, but already was wide enough from the high school east to Fourth Avenue West.

“We’re just really excited to get them done,” Nicosia said of the two new bike paths.