State considers resurfacing U.S. 2 in Kalispell next year

The Daily Inter Lake

The Montana Department of Transportation is seeking public involvement on two proposed construction projects on U.S. 2.

The first project is to include new asphalt surfacing, guardrail improvements, chip sealing and new pavement markings beginning at mile post 121.5, about 0.6 miles east of the junction with U.S. 93, and extends east about 1.3 miles.

The proposal also includes maintenance on bridges over the Stillwater River.

Project manager Wade Sakyards said the resurfacing project is slated for 2008, beginning in April and likely running through October.

The department wants comments from the public on the proposed project. Written comments may be submitted to the Montana Department of Transportation in Missoula at P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039.

The department will also host a public meeting on another proposed improvement to U.S. 2 on Tuesday.

The topic of the meeting will be a proposal to replace two bridges across Ashley Creek and a highway upgrade beginning at mile marker 114.4 and extending to 115.0.

The proposed road reconstruction would include grading, drainage, new asphalt surfacing, widening, updating signs, possibly adding a turn lane and creating a link parallel to the roadway to the Rail-to-Trails bicycle path that currently stops just east of the east end of the project.

This project is scheduled beyond 2011. The public meeting will be Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the United Way conference room in the Old Gateway West Mall in Kalispell.

During project construction the public could expect single-lane closures in the area during working hours.

According to a press release, the purpose of the project is to enhance the safety of the highway as well as take a cost-effective action to preserve and maintain the existing roadway.

The two bridges cross Ashley Creek at mile markers 113.928 and 114.650.