Bypass decision not set

By WILLIAM L. SPENC

Two-lane version possible until more money is available

EThe Daily Inter Lake

The south half of the U.S. 93 bypass will likely be built first … although the north half could still get the nod.

And whichever half is built first, it will initially be two lanes … although it could still be four lanes if enough money comes through.

And whether it's two lanes or four lanes, there will be at least one at-grade intersection. Guaranteed … probably.

That's pretty much the status of the long-awaited bypass, following a joint city-county work session on Monday and a Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday.

One thing everyone agreed on is that the Reserve Loop has top priority, no matter what happens with the funding situation.

Also referred to as the West Reserve Connector, the loop road will be a new, four-lane road that runs from the intersection of Stillwater Road and West Reserve Road southeast to U.S. 93, adjacent to Glacier High School and Costco. Eventually, it will connect with another road that runs through the Hutton Ranch Plaza project, on the east side of U.S. 93, north behind Target and Home Depot to West Reserve.

The Reserve Loop should be built next year. After that, Kalispell and Flathead County officials have indicated that they want the south half of the bypass to get priority.

During Thursday's advisory committee meeting, Montana Department of Transportation Missoula District Administrator Dwane Kailey said that's probably what will happen, although it isn't official yet.

"We have a clear consensus that the city and county officials prefer the south half, and in my opinion that's how we're going to go," Kailey said. "I'm trying to get that from [department director Jim Lynch], but he's still getting e-mails right and left" from people who aren't necessarily echoing the opinion of the elected officials.

During Monday's joint work session, the biggest news was that whichever half of the bypass is built first, it could very well be a two-lane project, rather than the four lanes that everyone was expecting.

To date, Congress has allocated a total of $30 million for construction of the bypass. Another $8.2 million in appropriations is contained in a federal spending bill that's scheduled to be voted on in January.

The overall project is expected to cost $76 million.

Given recent increases in the cost of various construction materials, and the fact that the Reserve Loop has top priority, Kailey said the $30 million will only be enough to build a two-lane bypass - regardless of whether the south or north half is built first.

Assuming the south half gets the nod, the current plans would call for two lanes from Gardner's Auction north to U.S. 2, near the west end of Appleway Drive.

Moreover, there wouldn't be enough money for any access ramps along the way. Consequently, a proposed exit ramp at Sunnyside Drive would be eliminated, as would any access ramps at Foy's Lake Road.

There would be an overpass at Foy's Lake Road. However, Airport Road would intersect the bypass at grade, with a slight jog - meaning traffic heading north on Airport Road, for example, would have to stop at the bypass, turn left onto the bypass, and either continue on to U.S. 2 or make a quick right turn back onto Airport Road.

If the additional $8.2 million appropriation comes through, a four-lane bypass could be built for about 3.5 miles. The remaining half-mile would still be two lanes.

As additional federal funding is made available, the two-lane section would be upgraded to four lanes and access ramps added, after which work could proceed on the remaining half of the bypass.

A similar situation would take place if the north half is built first.

Kailey said about 40 percent of the total right-of-way needed for the bypass has been acquired so far, including the former railroad alignment from U.S. 93 north towards U.S. 2.

However, that easement only covers about half the width of the bypass. Consequently, he didn't think right of way considerations provided a clear preference for the south or north half.

Kailey spoke Thursday via a teleconferencing system. He didn't say when an "official" phasing decision might be made, and he could not be reached for comment following the meeting.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com