College gives nod for U.S. 93 tunnel

Flathead Valley Community College trustees on Monday approved a right-of-way agreement granting a temporary construction permit on college property for a pedestrian and bike tunnel under U.S. 93 next to the campus.

The deal involves no land acquisition.

At its regular March meeting, the board of trustees heard a presentation by Jim Watson of the Flathead County Weed, Parks and Recreation Board and Ed Toavs, a construction engineer for the Montana Department of Transportation.

Watson said the tunnel would provide links to existing pedestrian and bike trails while providing a safe crossing between Kidsports and the community college campus. The college has another interest, too, with students attending classes in former Department of Natural Resources and Conservation building on the west side of U.S. 93.

“I think this is an incredible gift to the college and the community,” he said.

Watson said the tunnel provides a link for east-west connectivity between trails. Trials exist on the east side of U.S. 93 between the college and West Reserve Drive and on the west side from Kidsports south to Meridian Road.

 A future vision of a crossing over the Stillwater River to a trail leading to Whitefish Stage Road would make the campus the main east-west intersection.

Toavs said the tunnel will be 140 feet long, 14 feet wide and 10 feet tall. The tunnel goes under the highway 225 feet from the intersection of Grandview Drive and Four Mile Drive.

On Tuesday, the department awarded the contract for the concrete blocks that make up the tunnel to Glacier Precast Concrete Inc. of Kalispell.

He expected to narrow the five lanes into two lanes through the construction zone beginning in mid-May after the college holds graduation. The project impacts a highway with an average traffic flow of 35,000 vehicles per day.

“We intend to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Toavs said.

He said Wednesday that the department is working on putting out letters to residents of Indian Trail Road and Summit Ridge Drive explaining the reason for night construction and attendant noise.

Toavs said the tunnel placement was chosen to avoid a major gas line crossing as well as a major storm drain. It also was designed to keep all paths to a maximum grade of 6 percent.

“Grade dictated the location of paths,” he said. 

As another benefit, designers hope to relieve parking pressure at Kidsports for major events by allowing people to park at the college and use the tunnel to the sports complex. In answer to a trustee question, Toavs said the tunnel connects to sidewalks on campus and has short path to a parking lot.

“We do not want to build a tunnel to nowhere,” Toavs said with a laugh.

Trustees voted unanimously to approve the temporary construction permit.

Separately, in her president’s report, Jane Karas said the three Montana community colleges continue to work together with legislators to restore $3 million in reductions to the institutions in the state general appropriations bill.

“We spent a lot of time speaking to all the Finance and Claims Committee members,” she said. “We’re optimistic we’ll see some funds restored.

Karas said local legislators have supported the college in seeking return of at least a portion of the reductions. She said it remains a question if the governor will sign legislation with large cuts to education.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” she said.

After the meeting, Karas said the local legislators understand the college plays an important role in economic recovery through job training. Without restoration of lost state education dollars, she said the college may have to cut classes and student services, resulting in a longer time for students to earn degrees.

Also in her report, Karas announced that the Board of Regents approved the new nursing associate of science degree, physical therapist assistant and emergency management associates programs.

“The emergency management services program will be the only one in the state,” Karas said.

The nursing program allows students to take the registered nursing exam as well as continue their education for a bachelors in nursing. Karas said the college will take applications in the fall for students to start this program in 2012.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com .