Temporary funding fix leaves bypass up in air

A two-month extension of federal transportation funding was not what proponents of the Kalispell bypass had in mind.

The provision passed by Congress last month is set to expire even before the Montana Department of Transportation expects to seek bids on the long-awaited auxiliary highway.

“We just don’t have much certainty into the future what finances will be available,” said Ed Toavs, district administrator for the state transportation department.

Planners already had pushed back the bypass bid date due to the lack of funding. The current date of Aug. 27 is still tentative.

State officials are hoping for a long-term federal funding bill that can provide the estimated $40 million to complete the northern portion of U.S. 93 Alternative Route. Toavs said that the transportation department has a high priority on the Kalispell project, so much so that delays push back the rest of the state construction schedule.

“The bypass probably is by far the largest project in the state this year,” he said. “I suspect the next largest project, in terms of dollars, is not even half of what the bypass is.”

Montana relies on 87 cents from the federal government for every transportation dollar it spends. This reliance on Congressional approval has officials sweating the repeated stopgap transportation measures passed at that level.

The current measure is the 33rd temporary fix in six years, according to The Associated Press.

In reaction to the move, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., joined the public outcry for a long-term bill.

“A two-month extension will run dry in the middle of construction season and gives almost zero certainty to folks working construction this summer,” he said.

Tester said that he supported the measure because something had to be done, but added that a long-term bill is needed.

What the state will get from this short-term funding measure is work on some smaller projects and maintenance, according to Toavs. The state will be able to commit to and award bids in June and July.

But the bypass project’s timeline is still relatively unknown.

Currently, it’s due for a spring 2017 grand opening — if Congress releases the money for long-term planning, according to Toavs.

Otherwise, the next phases of the bypass project that has spanned more than two decades may have to wait another year.

“We’re going to stay on target at this point to let the project on Aug. 27,” Toavs said. “But from a cash-flow standpoint, it makes you very uncomfortable, because you don’t have certainty that federal money will come in.”

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.