Traffic to flow soon on Kalispell bypass

Drivers should be able to use the south half of Kalispell's U.S. 93 Alternate Route in about a month.

That's the word from Montana Department of Transportation official Ed Toavs.

Toavs, a district construction engineer, said new traffic lights on U.S. 93 South and U.S. 2 West will begin flashing yellow one week before they are fully operational. That will let the public know the bypass is ready, he said.

The section from U.S. 93 South to Airport Road is 90 percent complete, Toavs said, noting it should be finished by the first week of November.

The biggest part of that project yet to be done is pouring a deck for the South Ashley Creek bridge.

The section from Airport Road to U.S. 2 is 80 to 85 percent done. The target completion date is the end of October.

There is still some work to do, including sidewalk, curbs and median islands, on the Foy's Lake Road roundabout, although the roundabout now is open to traffic.

The Foy's Lake Road roundabout is one of three on the project, including one between U.S. 93 and Airport Road at Siderius Commons and one on Airport Road.

Widening of U.S. 2 where it meets the bypass is more than 90 percent done. Most of the surfacing will be completed this week, Toavs said. Seeding and planting of grass and shrubs will start this fall and continue in the spring, with a chip-seal on the roadway next summer.

The last portion of the project is a U.S. 93 bike path connector.

When it is finished, the trail from Somers to Kila will be complete. A pedestrian bridge west of U.S. 93 will tie in to two bridges that span Ashley Creek.

Ames Construction of Utah is building the $13.6 million north-end portion stretching 1.54 miles between U.S. 2 West and Airport Road. Knife River Kalispell is building the $9 million, 1.5-mile south-end stretch between Airport Road and U.S. 93 South.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.