Meridian may open to traffic this week

The Daily Inter Lake

North Meridian Road in Kalispell could be open to traffic as early as Tuesday, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.

Crews hope to have the road graveled and partially open to traffic early this week, project manager Jim Roberts said.

The middle section of Meridian has been closed with traffic detoured around the construction.

During the day, one lane will be open with a flagger directing traffic. Two lanes will be open at night.

Flaggers are necessary during the day because crews still have work to do on sidewalks and the surrounding area, said Sam Weyers, office manager for Nelcon, the construction company performing the roadwork.

This will remain the situation on Meridian up through the Northwest Montana Fair Aug. 13 to 20, Roberts said. Meridian runs along the west side of the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

"Right now we're feverishly trying to get the road open," Roberts said.

Waterline work and storm drains are finished, he said. Last week, crews laid base coarse gravel between Wyoming Street and Three Mile Drive.

A precise paving schedule hasn't been set yet.

Last week's thunderstorms didn't hinder the road work, Roberts said.

"Actually, it helped them," he said. "All the water on the grade and on the gravel does its own compacting."

Nelcon's contract sets Meridian's completion date at Nov. 30, although it may be finished earlier. The company is currently ahead of schedule, said Peter Thelen of the Department of Transportation.

"Hopefully we'll get completed out in mid-October, but they haven't committed to that yet," Roberts said.

Information about the project is available at www.meridianroadinfo.com.

There will be an informational meeting about Meridian Road construction at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Kalispell Area Chamber of Commerce office.