State seeks $28 million for bypass completion

The Montana Department of Transportation is in the hunt for $28 million in federal funding needed to build the northern half of the U.S. 93 Alternate Route on the west side of Kalispell.

An application for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant should be submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation by the end of October, according to Ed Toavs, a construction engineer for the Montana Department of Transportation.

“We’re hoping to get a minimum of two lanes built between Highway 2 and 93 at West Reserve,” Toavs said. “There may be some four-lane segments on the very north and south ends of this, but the goal is a minimum of two lanes so we have full connectivity.” 

Combined with state funding, a $28 million grant should provide enough funding to let the state complete the northern half of the bypass, Toavs said.

“With that money and what we would have to match, we are very comfortable that would take care of building the bypass.”

Work on the project would start in 2013 at the soonest, depending on if or when federal funds are awarded, Toavs said. He added that negotiations are ongoing for the last parcel of right of way needed for the project.

“Our intent is to have this designed and ready so if we [receive] the grant we have a project and can go to construction. We’re very motivated,” Toavs said.

The Montana Department of Transportation plans to build the Reserve Drive South connector in 2012, a $2.998 million project that creates a new road that runs from Hutton Ranch Road to West Reserve Drive.

That project ultimately would tie in with a reconfiguration of the West Reserve Drive and U.S. 93 intersection as part of the northern half of the bypass project.

Some city leaders and shop owners have reported seeing less truck traffic in downtown Kalispell thanks to the southern half of the alternate route, which was completed in November 2010.

The benefit of less through traffic in the downtown and along Main Street will increase as the northern half of the alternate route is built, Toavs said. “We won’t see full use until it’s complete all the way through. That’s when we’ll really see people wanting to use it.”

Toavs anticipates strong competition for the federal grant funding.

“I would hope that sometime this winter or by early spring we would hear back ... Without the TIGER grant it would be a lot more difficult to fund [the project].”

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce has identified the completion of the alternate route as the area’s top transportation priority.

“We think this is a great avenue being put forward by [Montana Department of Transportation] and we’re urging everyone to provide whatever support they can,” said Joe Unterreiner, chamber president.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.