Final phase of Bigfork project mapped out

Plans are moving forward for the final phase of the Bigfork Stormwater Project.

Brett Walcheck from 48 North Engineering told the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork recently about plans and a timeline for the completion of the project.

The project was initiated in 2007 and the first three phases were completed in 2011.

The last phase will address the north and south sides of Bridge Street. Strom drain conveyance systems will run along the roads to the Steel Bridge where they will then empty into catch basins. Water from the system will empty into filters on either side of the Steel Bridge, removing pollutants before going into the bay.

The north side of the project will begin on Electric Avenue and run from the Pocketstone Café and Garden Bar to the Steel Bridge. The south side will address Bridge Street from Montana 35 and Montana 209 to the Steel Bridge.  Curbs and gutters will be installed, along with some sidewalk.

While the north and south portions of the project could be completed at different times, Walcheck recommended doing them both in one 74-day period, beginning right after Labor Day. Completing the project all at once would be more cost efficient, he said. But he looked to the community foundation and the chamber to suggest a time frame that would work the best for Bigfork.

“Keep in mind that this is an RSID and we’re trying to keep it as cost-efficient as possible,” Walcheck said.

Walcheck hopes to open up bids for construction in June or July, so the Flathead County commissioners can award a contract by August. Tentatively, Walcheck would like work on the project to start on Sept. 8.

The hope is to complete the project with as little disruption as possible to Bigfork’s busy season. The only conflict with the proposed timeline would be with the Chamber of Commerce’s Chalk ‘n’ Rock Festival Sept. 19 and 20.

While construction could be pushed back a few weeks, it would increase the risk of running into winter weather that could halt the project prematurely, and leaves the road unpaved until spring.

Community Foundation board members agreed that it made sense to complete the project all at once, but suggested starting on the south side, and completing the north portion last, to minimize disturbance.

Walcheck said during construction there will be one lane of Bridge Street open to traffic.

The work will take place on county right of way.

The final phase of the project is being funded through a special tax district, which will levy $1.2 million of the estimated $2.8 million cost from taxes on 564 Bigfork properties over a 20-year period.

Flathead County commissioners approved the tax district in January after receiving feedback from affected property owners. There were 27 valid protests for creation of the tax district, below the number required to stop the project.

Members of the Bigfork Stormwater advisory committee have been working for three years to get the county to move forward with the tax district in order to complete the project. The tax district will also fund ongoing maintenance of the system.

The project is designed to reduce stormwater pollutants running into Bigfork Bay, the Swan River and Flathead Lake. It was divided into four phases. The first three phases were completed in 2011 and subsequent testing has shown the system is working.

A report released at the end of 2014 showed that these implementations of the project reduced pollution of total suspended solids by at least 75 percent, and there was a 50 percent reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen.

The project also reduced the human health risk associated with recreational contact exposure to pathogens discharged into a water body, the report stated. Constituents associated with road de-icing were also reduced, the report said.

The report stated that according to estimated loading of nutrients, completing the Bridge Street section of the project would have the highest return in investment.

And though the construction will be disruptive, members are excited to see it move forward, and get sidewalks and curbs out of the deal.

“You guys, we’re on our way,” Mutascio said.