Kalispell bypass takes new turn

Inter Lake editorial

The long-discussed U.S. 93 bypass, which for decades has meandered as an idea but still hasn't materialized, has taken another turn.

Traffic engineers and a local advisory committee recently agreed that the bypass initially should be a two-lane affair, rather than four lanes, because it would be cheaper, quicker to build and would have a better chance of getting federal money.

That's a sensible solution, particularly in an era of uncertain congressional highway appropriations.

It appears that the southern portion, between an area near Gardner's RV and U.S. 2 West, is the likeliest to be built first.

The overall plan for the bypass calls for it to begin on U.S. 93 South near Gardner's, then swing west and north for eight miles through two big interchanges and over eight bridges, fianlly reconnecting with U.S. 93 north at West Reserve Drive.

The price tag for this ambitious plan has ballooned to $111 million and is expected to keep rising.

The southern half not only has strong local government and business support, it also has the advantage of actually serving as a bypass around downtown Kalispell.

And a reduced version of the southern segment, without expensive interchanges, might be able to be built for under $35 million.

It makes sense to pursue the southern strategy so that at least a portion of the bypass can get built soon.

The remainder of the bypass project - the northern reach between U.S. 2 and U.S. 93 - is more problematic.

The biggest concern may be that the northern end of the bypass will intersect one of the valley's busiest intersections, and instead of bypassing, it will bisect the retail/government complex growing near the U.S. 93/West Reserve junction.

It might be reasonable to step back and perhaps reconsider whether the north half, as it's currently planned, is worth the effort.

After all, since the original bypass plans were designed, Kalispell's city limits have moved three miles to the north. Church Drive, not West Reserve, is now the northern boundary.

Indeed, Kalispell government officials already are looking at ways to have roads built as part of major developments serve as de facto bypasses.

No matter where or when a U.S. 93 bypass is built, one has to wonder, too, whether some consideration needs to be given to east-west routes.

Since U.S. 2 and Reserve Drive are the only east-west arterial roads crossing Kalispell, those roads (particularly West Reserve Drive) are under ever-increasing traffic pressure.

The way to relieve that pressure is another east-west road. Perhaps the proposed extension of Rose Crossing - part of the planned Glacier Town Center project - would help, or perhaps there's another alternative in the future.