Cattle on Beaver Creek Park starting Tuesday

Havre Daily News Staff

Beaver Creek Park staff and Montana Department of Transportation are again urging drivers to use caution when driving on Montana Secondary Highway 234 - Beaver Creek Highway - and other roads in Beaver Creek Park starting next week as, cattle will again be on the park starting Tuesday.

The Hill County Park Board leases grazing to area ranchers from the day after Labor Day to the first of the next year, with the season sometimes shortened due to weather or grazing conditions.

Park management and MDT are urging people driving through the area to exercise caution and pay attention to the signs being put up.

MDT will put up a reader board just south of town to indicate that the speed limit on the roads through the park have been reduced to 35 miles per hour at night.

The daytime speed limit in the park is 55 mph to Taylor Road and 45 mph past Taylor Road.

Signs will also be up on the park itself to make sure people are aware of the fact that there are cattle around, and remind them of the hazard to try to avoid vehicle-cow crashes when the livestock are on the road.

Officials have said people will be able to stay safe if they are alert and following the speed limits, but driving like it's a normal night doesn't allow people enough time to stop even if they remain alert.

Officials have said that people should have their eyes open during the day as well for the cattle and keep in mind that there are places on the road that can be tricky when trying to spot cattle, such as at hills and curves.