West Main/Eureka to Hale Connector Project to replace aging water pipes

Helena has launched the West Main/Eureka to Hale Connector Project in the south hills near the Rodney trails to replace 130-year-old pipes that carry water from the West Main Well uphill to the Hale tank. The $14 million undertaking, named the West Main/Eureka to Hale Connector Project, was made possible by a $15 million Covid relief grant awarded to the city in 2021, city reporting states. Officials say the work aims to secure reliable water for thousands of South Hills and downtown residents and businesses.

The Hale tank itself is 135 years old and holds 4 million gallons of drinking water, making it a critical piece of Helena’s system. City Engineer Jamie Clark told local media that the replacement work is intended to extend system reliability for another 130 years. Clark reflected on the effort in personal terms: “When I first started here, whatever, 15 years ago there was a lot of things that kept me up at night, when I learned about them, right? Like what happens if this thing breaks? And I sort of just learned you chip away at the stone, and do what you can do and you leave work at work and go home and play. And so this was one of those things.”

Timelines reported by local outlets differ. KTVH reported the project began in early fall 2025 and expected completion by June 30, 2026. Montana Free Press reported a two-year city water project began earlier in October 2025 and that the work is set to last through spring 2027, with construction paused in summer to meet irrigation needs, according to the city project website. The Missouri River water plant will be used until the project is finished, the Montana Free Press also reported. Readers should consult the city project website or City Engineer Jamie Clark for the current schedule and phased work map.

Residents can expect intermittent impacts during construction. Montana Free Press advised that the water coming from faucets may occasionally be light brown and smelly during the project. Temporary street closures and the need for temporary piped water to some properties are possible; city staff will contact affected property owners, and the city has developed a project map so neighbors can see planned routes.

The project sits against a broader water-quality backdrop. The Tenmile Creek Watershed, including Grizzly Gulch south of Helena, is the recharge region for the city wells and is a federal Superfund site with ongoing remediation. The DEQ/Helena Source Water Project identifies closed and abandoned mines as primary contaminant sources, and finds septic systems, the city sewer system and major roads among the highest susceptibility pathways for pathogens, nitrates and various chemicals.

Related local work noted by reporting includes an approximately $3 million, state-loan-funded west-side project cited as a first phase and a wastewater treatment plant scum pump contract for Helena-based Hard Rock Road Building and Utilities that rose from $1.22 million to about $1.38 million after addenda.

The city solicited public comment on water system improvement projects through its Beheardhelena engagement, which included a public meeting on Sept. 30, 2022. For project questions or updates contact Jamie Clark, City Engineer, JClark@helenamt.gov, 406-447-8098, or Jake Garcin in the City Manager’s Office at JAGARCIN@helenamt.gov. The work promises long-term resilience for Helena’s water system; in the near term residents should plan for occasional disruptions and follow city notices for street closures and service adjustments.