Sha-Ron Parking Access

The engagement period for the design, zoning and floodplain permit have all closed.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the commissioners at their administrative public meeting approved a contract with JAG Grading and Paving for construction of the parking lot. Construction will take place from March or April 2023 to June 2023.

Missoula County will build an overflow parking lot and connected pedestrian trail directly northeast of the Sha-Ron Fishing Access Site on the Clark Fork River in East Missoula. One of the most popular river access sites for floaters, boaters and other recreationalists in the summer, Sha-Ron currently has a small, 25-vehicle parking lot, so many users park their vehicles along the shoulder of Highway 200. Though this is legal, it creates an unsafe environment for pedestrians and vehicles on the narrow roadway, which has speed limits of 45 and 55 mph.

This project is a collaboration between County departments and Montana state agencies. The new lot will hold 68 vehicles, reducing the number parked along the highway, and it will connect to the river access via a 0.2-mile shared-use path. The parking area will have portable bathroom facilities screened by a fence or barrier. A new bus stop will be located along Highway 200 between the two parking lot entrances.

Planned construction of the project is scheduled for spring 2023 and is estimated to take about two months. The goal is to have the parking lot available for the summer 2023 float season.

Once construction is complete, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will manage the site through a recreation permit issued from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), which owns the right-of-way. Missoula County will maintain the trail between the overflow parking areas. Mountain Line will maintain the bus stop.

The Montana Transportation Commission determines the speed limit on Highway 200 in close coordination with MDT. The last speed study of this stretch of highway was conducted by MDT in 2019. There was no recommendation then to lower the speed limit; however, the construction of this parking lot may influence people's driving habits enough to provide data that may justify lowering the speed limit in the future. Missoula County did submit a formal request to MDT to complete a speed zone study in November 2022. The study is focused on Highway 200 between East Missoula and the intersection of Tamarack Road/Juniper Drive. MDT will likely complete data collection in this summer and have a complete study and recommendation in late 2023 or early 2024.

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