New county road-design standards approved

An upgrade of Flathead County’s minimum standards for road design and construction will require all roads to be designed by a professional engineer licensed to do business in Montana.

The new requirement pertains to all roads, “even if it’s only 100 feet,” and is the biggest change in the updated standards, Public Works Director Dave Prunty told the county commissioners on Monday.

The commissioners unanimously approved the new design and construction standards following a public hearing at which no one spoke.

Prunty said local engineers earlier were sent copies of the updated standards and some of their comments were incorporated into the draft.

Commissioner Jim Dupont lauded Road and Bridge Department officials and Road Advisory Committee members for their efforts “to simplify the process.”

The committee held more than a half-dozen early morning meetings to put the document together. It’s a revision of the 2007 minimum standards.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman said the document “is a step in the right direction.”