$15 million bridge replacement project launched
The Montana Department of Transportation is getting started on plans to replace the South Fork Flathead River Bridge on U.S. 2 west of Hungry Horse.
A request for public comment was issued Tuesday.
“This is step one,” said Chris Hardan, project design engineer. “We just want to let the public know the process is starting for this project.”
Estimated to cost about $15 million, proposed work includes removal of the existing bridge, construction of a new bridge on an alignment north of the existing bridge and roadwork to tie the bridge into the existing roadway.
The two-lane bridge was built in the mid-1930s. It has held up well for its age but is due for replacement and improvements, Hardan said.
“Up there with the high traffic counts and lots of recreation vehicles, it’s a major gateway to Glacier National Park. We need to improve the width, and we can’t do that with the existing bridge,” Hardan said.
While still subject to change as the process moves forward, preliminary plans call for construction of a two-lane bridge with shoulders that are 8 feet wide and a separate pedestrian path, Hardan said. The existing bridge’s shoulders are only about 1 foot wide.
Construction is tentatively planned for 2017. That schedule depends on completion of design and the availability of adequate funding.
New right-of-way and utility relocation will be required for the project.
The state will contact affected landowners prior to construction regarding property acquisition and temporary construction permits.
Written comments about the project can be submitted to the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula office, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039, or online at www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml. Note that comments are for project UPN 8083000.
The South Fork Flathead River Bridge also was reviewed as part of the U.S. 2 Bad Rock Canyon Corridor Planning Study that the Montana Department of Transportation completed in September 2012.
That study is available at www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/badrock/docs/final-study-report.pdf.
Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.