Commissioners OK bid on trail project

The Daily Inter Lake

Flathead County commissioners have approved a $413,000 bid to extend the Great Northern bicycle/pedestrian trail, which begins at Meridian Road in Kalispell, another two miles west along U.S. 2.

Sandon Construction Co. of Kalispell submitted the winning bid, which still has to be approved by the state Community Transportation Enhancement Program board before construction can begin.

About $600,000 is being spent to finish the Great Northern trail and to build a trail along U.S. 93 from the Somers hatchery to the public beach area. That will complete the list of trail priorities approved by commissioners some time ago, said Forrest Sanderson, director of the county's planning office.

Once those projects are completed, the county can start gathering input on where other bicycle/pedestrian trails can be built. Interest is high, Sanderson said, but it's not known if state and federal funds will be available to pay for new trails.