GREAT FALLS — The City of Great Falls, in agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, plans to permanently close public access to West Bank Park and Rivers Edge Trail at the Fourth Street NE rail crossing.
City officials said in a news release this week that the closure has been implemented to ensure public safety due to the possibility of rail expansion into the Calumet Refining area, which will increase rail traffic.
The section that will be closed is the railroad crossing between Northwest Pipe Fittings and General Distributing.
Contrary to some rumors, the closure does not affect River's Edge Trail or West Bank Park - it simply means that people can no longer access them via this particular crossing.
Public access to West Bank Park will remain available from Third Street NW (between Cowboys Bar and Tasty Hot Pot).
