Work is underway to improve the Afterbay river launch area inside Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

The ramp — located near Fort Smith, Montana — is being extended and launching will be affected through Oct. 19 as a result.

The Afterbay ramp is a popular launch site on the Bighorn River. On a busy morning, the National Park Service said it’s common to see 10 or more drift boats moving down the river. However, over time, the end of the ramp has received significant damage from water erosion and breakage. There is a jagged ramp edge and significant drop off to the river and during low river levels, launching can be challenging.

The ramp is being repaired this month through collaboration between Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service and the Bighorn River Alliance.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience on this project,” said Bighorn Canyon Superintendent James Hill. “It has taken a while to get to this point and it will take a couple more weeks to see it to completion.”

Now through Oct. 19, a temporary, primitive graveled launch area north of the ramp will be available as a single-lane launch. Parking will be limited to single vehicles. Vehicles with trailers will be asked to use the overflow parking. Anglers using the area should expect traffic control delays and may want to consider using the Three Mile access as an alternative.

As a push-in ramp, the new structure will be formed and poured in the parking area near the existing ramp. It will take a little over a week for the formed ramp to cure, then it will be pushed into place. Minimal gravel work will be completed below the existing ramp edge to prepare for the placement of the push in ramp.