House move slows traffic

House moving operations that backed up traffic for several miles on U.S. 93 Friday morning have been delayed indefinitely.

That's the word from the Montana Department of Transportation by mid-afternoon Friday.

The large house was loaded onto the back of a truck and started its move from Lakeside to Lower Valley Friday morning. But the Montana Highway Patrol started getting "numerous complaints" regarding traffic snarls about 11 a.m., the dispatch center reported.

Although no accidents were reported, traffic was backed up for two hours or longer, the Patrol said. Delays stretched both to the north and to the south.

Then, just after 1 p.m., the Department of Transportation issued a notice that traffic was being delayed because of the house move. One of its motor carrier services officers was on the scene, the DOT said.

Traffic was to be let through for half-hour increments, the notice said, but would be blocked again when the house got closer to its destination off Montana 82 at School Addition Road north of Somers.

The notice asked drivers to use alternate routes.

Just 15 minutes later, the transportation department announced that the house was parked for the weekend and traffic was beginning to flow again.

That announcement also said the operation would resume at 9 a.m. Monday, when it would proceed in one continuous move from its present location to the junction with Montana 82.

It could take several hours, the announcement cautioned. The department also pleaded with U.S. 93 drivers from Somers to Montana 82 to find alternate routes between 9 and 11 a.m. Monday.

Finally, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, the transportation department issued concise final notice for the day: "This house move has been delayed indefinitely," administrative support worker Fran Rehn wrote. "The move rescheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. has been canceled."

House movers are required to get a permit from the Department of Transportation, laying out their route and logistics before beginning any move. They must, among other things, provide their own flaggers, flag vehicles and signs, and establish a work zone.

A key provision for this case is a requirement not to delay traffic for more than 10 minutes, and to "make every possible effort to keep other traffic moving at all times."