Road to Big Mountain on the table

State negotiators now expect to reach agreements with landowners on road right-of-way along Big Mountain Road, a key development that should allow a long-delayed improvement project to proceed.

Improvements to the road have been planned for more than a decade.

Stalled right-of-way talks and cost increases stymied progress, and Flathead County commissioners had set an end-of-the-year deadline for determining whether to keep pursuing the project or scrap it altogether.

As of Tuesday, the state had reached agreements with all but three of the landowners involved in right-of-way talks, and those three are expected to sign on as well, said Ray Harbin, right-of-way specialist for the Montana Department of Transportation.

"It looks like we should be able to move forward," Harbin told commissioners. "There's been a lot of change of heart on [the part of] landowners. We've been able to come to the table."

The state revised some land appraisals upward, he added, since real estate costs on the mountain are soaring.

He estimated right-of-way costs at $1.4 million. Relocating utilities should cost about $1 million, and construction is projected to cost $6.3 million.

That comes to $8.7 million overall and would cover widening and straightening only the upper 1.7 miles of Big Mountain Road - the section with the most treacherous switchbacks.

There's $4.5 million in federal money earmarked for the project, Harbin said, as well as $6.3 million set aside in another road fund.

Commissioners considered the report good news.

"Are you going to start tomorrow?" Commissioner Howard Gipe asked, drawing laughter.

Harbin said the transportation department expects the project to go to bid in 2007.

Reporter Alan Choate may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at achoate@dailyinterlake.com