Road move may nix bridge

The Flathead County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to abandon a short road in Hungry Horse, a decision that may end a developer’s plans to build a private bridge over the Flathead River.

Residents on Gamma Road sought the abandonment, which includes an easement that will allow continued public pedestrian access on a footpath that leads to the river.

More than a dozen people showed up for the hearing with several of them testifying in favor of the abandonment.

Erica Wirtila of Sands Surveying spoke for Bill Daggett, developer of the Flathead River Ranch subdivision on the west side of the river.

Daggett had filed a multi-agency application to build a 16-foot-wide, 325-foot-long bridge across the narrow chasm on the river to provide more convenient access to the subdivision, which currently is accessible from the north on Blankenship and Rabe Roads.

Wirtila cited subdivision documents from 1946 stating that the roads were “donated to the public forever” and she raised a state statute passed several years ago aimed at protecting public access to public waters.

“The board may not abandon a county road or right-of-way used to provide existing legal access to public or waters,” the law states. It goes on to say that roads cannot be abandoned “if the access benefits two or more landowners access unless all of the landowners agree to the abandonment.”

The commissioners, however, were secure in the easement ensuring existing access to the river will continue on a footpath down a steep bank at the end of Gamma Road

And the road will continue to provide existing access to all landowners on Gamma Road.

The commissioners voted after little discussion.

“I don’t like the idea of a private bridge to begin with,” said Commissioner Jim Dupont, adding that it would be problematic from a law enforcement standpoint alone.

Leading the way in speaking for the abandonment were Craig and Susan Drynan — who own a home that would be closest to the bridge — along with their attorney, Tom Esch.

They said a bridge would be an aesthetic blight on a section of river that is part of a Wild and Scenic Rivers designation, that it would disturb nesting eagles in the immediate area, that it would create traffic safety problems on Gamma Road’s approach to U.S. 2, and that it would be a dangerous nuisance attraction for kids to climb and jump off, nearly 60 feet above the river.

Craig Drynan noted that the Flathead River Ranch properties were purchased for a price that accounted for limited existing access and that providing bridge access would benefit those property values while harming public interests and property values in the Gamma Road neighborhood.

“It is ridiculous that because of their poor choices ... the public should sacrifice,” he said.

“Your job is to protect the river, not wreck the river,” Esch told the commissioners. “Don’t confuse a property right with a property wrong.”

“Our lives are directly affected by your decision today,” Susan Drynan said. “Please set a precedent we can all live with.”

Most people in the room applauded after the commissioners voted.

“I am very pleased,” Susan Drynan said. “I am so pleased that that canyon will remain pristine.”

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.