Zinke, Daines back Blacktail Road project

Montana’s Republican representatives in Washington, D.C., have endorsed the proposed Blacktail Road paving project, for which public comments are due Friday.

Forest Road No. 917, also known as the Blacktail Road, is the primary access route to National Forest System lands in the Blacktail Mountain area from the community of Lakeside and U.S. 93.

In an Aug. 29 letter to the Flathead National Forest’s district ranger overseeing the proposed project, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke applauded the forest’s work to develop the project, which would be mostly funded by a federal recreation grant.

“We remain highly committed to prioritizing road maintenance as Congress considers federal appropriations each year,” they wrote.

Under the forest’s proposal, the paving project would stabilize and restore about 10 miles of dirt road, starting about 3.5 miles up the road and continuing to the top of Blacktail Mountain.

The environmental review also identifies an alternative plan to pave only a portion of the road, extending the pavement about 4.5 miles from mile marker 8.

Comments on this proposed project will be accepted through Sept. 2.

Written, hand-delivered and oral comments can be delivered to District Ranger Rich Kehr at 200 Ranger Station Road, Bigfork, MT 59911. Comments can also be submitted by fax to 406-837-7503; or by calling 406-837-7501.

Electronic comments should be sent to comments-northern-flathead-swan-lake@fs.fed.us, with “Blacktail Road Project” in the subject line.