Interstate Bridge Construction Will Impact Walk-in River Access in the Triple Bridges Area of the Alberton Gorge

April 13, 2026
4:20 am

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Imagine you're a Montana outdoorsman, floating the Clark Fork River through the stunning Alberton Gorge, your AR-15 slung safely in the raft for that perfect blend of adventure and self-defense readiness. Now picture this idyll disrupted: starting April 15, the Montana Department of Transportation and Sletten Construction are shuttering Old Highway 10 West and the pedestrian bridge at the Triple Bridges area until fall 2027 for an I-90 bridge replacement. It's a massive project aimed at modernizing infrastructure over the river, but the closures mean no more easy walk-in access for putting in kayaks, tubes, or drift boats at this prime spot. River floating itself stays open—thankfully—but getting to the water just got a whole lot trickier, forcing boaters to scout upstream or downstream launches like the Alberton put-in or Frenchtown access. For the 2A community, this isn't just a roadblock; it's a stark reminder of how government infrastructure projects can quietly erode our access to public lands where we exercise our rights. Montana's rivers are sacred ground for armed self-reliance—think bear country patrols, family floats with sidearms at the ready, or training sessions blending marksmanship with whitewater skills. With Triple Bridges off-limits, expect crowded alternative ramps, longer hikes with gear (hello, heavy ammo caches and long guns), and potential safety risks from congested put-ins. We've seen this playbook before: bridge rebuilds in Idaho's Salmon River choked float traffic, sparking 2A advocacy pushes for dedicated access easements. Here, it could ignite calls for MDT to prioritize recreational corridors in permits, ensuring pedestrian bridges get rebuilt with gun-friendly features like secure storage zones or even 2A-neutral signage. The silver lining? This disruption rallies us to double down—scout those backups now, join local angling and shooting groups lobbying for river rights, and keep that float gun oiled. Montana's wild heart beats strong, but vigilance turns temporary closures into permanent wins for freedom on the water. Stay armed, stay informed, and paddle on.

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Imagine you’re a Montana outdoorsman, floating the Clark Fork River through the stunning Alberton Gorge, your AR-15 slung safely in the raft for that perfect blend of adventure and self-defense readiness. Now picture this idyll disrupted: starting April 15, the Montana Department of Transportation and Sletten Construction are shuttering Old Highway 10 West and the pedestrian bridge at the Triple Bridges area until fall 2027 for an I-90 bridge replacement. It’s a massive project aimed at modernizing infrastructure over the river, but the closures mean no more easy walk-in access for putting in kayaks, tubes, or drift boats at this prime spot. River floating itself stays open—thankfully—but getting to the water just got a whole lot trickier, forcing boaters to scout upstream or downstream launches like the Alberton put-in or Frenchtown access.

For the 2A community, this isn’t just a roadblock; it’s a stark reminder of how government infrastructure projects can quietly erode our access to public lands where we exercise our rights. Montana’s rivers are sacred ground for armed self-reliance—think bear country patrols, family floats with sidearms at the ready, or training sessions blending marksmanship with whitewater skills. With Triple Bridges off-limits, expect crowded alternative ramps, longer hikes with gear (hello, heavy ammo caches and long guns), and potential safety risks from congested put-ins. We’ve seen this playbook before: bridge rebuilds in Idaho’s Salmon River choked float traffic, sparking 2A advocacy pushes for dedicated access easements. Here, it could ignite calls for MDT to prioritize recreational corridors in permits, ensuring pedestrian bridges get rebuilt with gun-friendly features like secure storage zones or even 2A-neutral signage.

The silver lining? This disruption rallies us to double down—scout those backups now, join local angling and shooting groups lobbying for river rights, and keep that float gun oiled. Montana’s wild heart beats strong, but vigilance turns temporary closures into permanent wins for freedom on the water. Stay armed, stay informed, and paddle on.

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