Groundbreaking for new overlook on River Drive

It’s a project that’s been 30 years in the making, and on Tuesday, those involved broke ground for the River Drive Overlook.

The overlook was always part of the plan, but when it was initially proposed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the railroad was where the River’s Edge Trail currently exists on the south bank and the company was opposed, Art Dickhoff said.

He became involved in 1977 as part of the Giant Springs Heritage Park Commission that acquired land from the overlook where the interpretive sign is currently overlooking the Black Eagle Dam to Rainbow Dam.

The Great Falls City Commission recently awarded MRTE Inc. a $60,000 construction project to construct a small viewing overlook on River Drive, east of the intersection with 25th Street North.

The project also includes landscaping near the Montana Veterans Memorial.

The project is funded by the Federal Aid Community Transportation Enhancement Program, with matching funds from Montana Veterans Memorial Inc. and NorthWestern Energy.

“Art always had it in his mind that this should get done,” said Andrew Finch, transportation planner with the city.

Finch said the CTEP money had been available for the project, but there were no matching funds until Dickhoff renewed the effort to construct the overlook several years ago, Finch said.

The contractor plans to start work on the projects over the winter, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, Finch said.

“He’s been dreaming of this for 30 years, and he’s been persistent in getting it done,” Sydne Abernathy said. She also served on the Giant Springs Heritage Park Commission with Dickhoff.

“He’s been a steady, constant worker for getting this done,” she said.

Dickhoff said he doesn’t live far from the future overlook and often sees people leaning or climbing over the guardrail to get a photo. The overlook will also address that safety issue, he said.