County shuts down rough road in forest

Lost Prairie Road, including the stretch where the road name changes to Pleasant Valley Road, was closed last week by the Flathead County commissioners because of deterioration.

Exactly how long the road in the Marion area will remain closed is unknown.

County Public Works Director Dave Prunty told commissioners once the ground dries out enough, he will send county road employees to perform maintenance work so the road can be reopened.

Most likely a new culvert will be installed, pit run gravel hauled in, the road bladed and stabilization work performed, he said.

Road and Bridge Supervisor Ovila Byrd told commissioners the deterioration has reached the point that the road base will be destroyed if truck traffic is allowed on Lost Prairie Road.

“The erosion is significant and dangerous,” Prunty said.

State law prohibits the county from closing the road and declining to perform any maintenance, Prunty said.

The road doesn’t provide access to homes.

The two-track forest road is used by sportsmen, recreationists and people working in the timber industry, Prunty said. It’s an unmaintained county right of way on a Plum Creek road.

County commissioners also lifted truck weight limits on all county roads because the roads have dried out enough that heavy trucks running on the roads shouldn’t cause excessive damage.

Prunty and Byrd also told commissioners that the water level in Echo Lake this spring is normal and the causeway isn’t in danger of being inundated by water. Last year, the causeway was closed from late June through early December because it was under water.

The men said the causeway sustained very little damage from the water.

“The road seems to be holding very well,” Prunty said, “even for being under water for five months.”

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.