Study details most congested roads

The Daily Inter Lake

Want to know which Kalispell streets are the most congested?

A transportation study shows no real surprises: U.S. 93 north of U.S. 2, and U.S. 2 east of U.S. 93 take the honors.

The Helena consulting firm of Robert Peccia & Associates did the study as part of an overall effort to map out how Kalispell can improve its traffic flows and controls. Peccia expects to have draft recommendations ready by April 15 for public feedback, and a final plan ready by May 15.

Jeff Key, manager of Peccia's traffic and transportation division, briefed the Kalispell Technical Advisory Committee on Thursday.

The briefing included a rundown of which Kalispell area roads have more traffic than they are designed for, and which streets' traffic loads are reaching that level.

Kalispell area streets handling more traffic than intended are:

. U.S. 93 north of Conway Drive to West Reserve Drive, and West Reserve Drive between U.S. 93 and Whitefish Stage Road. The two-lane portion of U.S. 93 south of Church Drive also is overloaded.

. U.S. 2 east of Fourth Avenue East, and Montana 35 going west to the Flathead River.

. U.S. 2 west of the city limits.

. Second Street East between Woodland Avenue and the entrance to Woodland Park.

. U.S. 93 between 12th and 13th streets.

Meanwhile, traffic on the following area roads is approaching those streets' capacities.

. U.S. 93 between Conway Drive and Oregon Street - as well as just south of the intersection with U.S. 2.

. Bits of Second Street East near Woodland Avenue and Woodland Park - as well as much of Woodland Drive.

. The Whitefish Stage Road bridge over the Stillwater River.

. Most of Foy's Lake Road

. Most of West Reserve Drive between U.S. 2 and Whitefish Stage Road.

. U.S. 2 between Montana 35 and Evergreen Drive.

. Part of U.S. 2 west of the city limits, plus Farm to Market Road between U.S. 2 and Three Mile Drive.

The Peccia study also showed which Kalispell intersections were the most prone to collisions between Jan. 1, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2005.

The intersection of Montana 35 and U.S. 2 led with 64 crashes. Main Street and Idaho Street was second with 55 accidents.

Other intersections with numerous crashes during those three years were U.S. 2 and Reserve Drive with 41, Idaho Street and Meridian Road with 38, U.S. 93 and 18th Street with 33, Idaho Street and Third Avenue East with 31, Idaho Street and Seventh Avenue East with 28, River Road and Idaho Street with 28, and U.S. 93 and Northridge Drive with 27.

The following intersections recorded 26 accidents during those three years - U.S. 2 and Sagel Lane, which is where the Super One store is located; U.S. 93 and Reserve Drive; and West Idaho Street and Fifth Avenue West.

The intersection of Main Street and Center Street recorded 25 crashes. U.S. 93 and Meridian Road, plus U.S. 2 and Cottonwood Drive each tallied 24 accidents.

The intersection of Montana 35 and U.S. 2 tallied the most injury accidents with 20. The intersection of U.S. 2 and Reserve Drive posted 19 injury accidents including at least one fatality.

The Peccia study efforts soon will begin analyzing safety for schoolchildren on streets around Edgerton and Russell schools.

People can read about the planning efforts on the Web at www.rpa-hln.com/kalispelltrans06/index.htm.