County gets takers for dust program

More than 24 miles of Flathead County roads will get dust abatement this summer through a new cost-sharing program.

It's a pay-to-play endeavor in which the county and rural residents split the cost of applying magnesium chloride to curb a growing road-dust problem.

Magnesium chloride, which costs about $4,000 per mile, will be applied to 15 miles of road, county Public Works Director Dave Prunty told the county commissioners on Tuesday.

About 9.5 miles will get emulsified asphalt (black oil). Oil is twice as expensive as magnesium chloride, but the county's match for oil will be the same - $2,000 per mile.

It will cost the county an estimated $50,000, half of the $100,000 set aside for the cost-sharing effort.

Prunty said his estimates are based on last year's prices, but added he feels "pretty comfortable we won't go over budget."

Neighborhoods that signed up for the dust abatement will have to pay the county before the application begins.

"We were surprised we got roughly 10 miles of black oil," Prunty said. "These were mostly in areas where they'd used oil before, so they stuck with what had been used in the past."

Roads slated for oil application include Alpine Drive, Ashley Lake, Braig, Hughes Bay, KM Ranch, Monegan and JP roads and Troutbeck Rise.

The distance for each road varies, depending on what neighbors wanted. At least a half-mile had to be committed for dust abatement.

Roads getting magnesium chloride include Jensen, KM Ranch, Lost Prairie, Lower Lost Prairie, Manning, North Ashley Lake, North Hill, Prairie View, Ramsfield and Vonderheide roads and Lewis Lane.

Flathead County modeled its new cost-sharing program after a similar effort that has been used successfully in Gallatin County for several years.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com