Run 174 - The Inner Belt Loop

June 6, 2024

The city of Billings has spent a couple decades working on creating a route from the north end of Billings Heights to the city’s west end.  Until now, the only way to get from one end to the other is by going up over the rims past the airport or taking the long way around by the Metra.  Over the years the city acquired the land and with some grants started working on the road design and construct a few years ago.  Today it was opened to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2pm.

I knew that I would have to run that road as part of this project so why not do it today and, maybe, be the first runner to do so?  

The route travels over the prairie from the roundabout at the top of Zimmerman Trail, north and then east, to where West Wicks Lane (AKA Skyway Drive) intersects Alkali Creek Road.  It’s about 5.25 miles and from the Alkali Creek Road end it is uphill except for a single 1/2 mile section.

My wife dropped me off about 1:45 on the Alkali Creek end and I headed out.  Here it is at the start.

A bit along the way, looking back.

After the ribbon cutting, a pilot car will lead a caravan of vehicles who want to be the first to travel on it.  Once the get to the Zimmerman roundabout the road will be open in both directions.

The ribbon cutting took a while because there were speeches with thanked those involved, talked about the history of the project, and talked about future plans for commercial/retail/residential development along the route.

Once the ribbon was cut I took off.  There were two bicyclists as well.  I stopped a little ways up and looked back at the caravan.

I finally got to the top of the hill, about 2 miles into the run, but it was still a bit of a hill.

Then comes the downhill portion.

Looking back up at that downhill.

There is a sewage treatment pond here.  No swimming.

Looking back.  Notice that the path is all asphalt and is in excellent shape, as is the new road.  The fencing along the way is also shiny new.

The end is near as I can see the roundabout up ahead.

 

From the roundabout I walked over to the parking lot at Zimmerman Park and met my wife who gave me a ride home.

It was a great run although a bit warm, nearly 80° and one that I would like to do again BUT in the other direction.  Here are the stats.  The first one was just my run to where they had the ribbon cutting.  I didn’t stop my watch so ignore the time shown.

And here’s the main part of the run.