EDITORIAL: Paving a promising sign for drivers

The asphalt onslaught has begun on Kalispell’s U.S. 93 bypass, a welcome indicator that the final stages of construction on the new highway are underway.

Initial paving began this week on the $33.8 million north half of U.S. 93 Alternate Route.

That means the 4.5-mile road job is on schedule for its anticipated opening this fall.

There still is plenty of work to be done — and drivers still need to be cautious around the construction zone — but the end is in sight.

For harried drivers negotiating the traffic nightmare in north Kalispell, the bypass can’t open soon enough. Consider that U.S. 93 in that area carries 34,000 vehicles a day. If you’re trying to get through the congestion, it seems like all 34,000 are on the road at the same time.

All of us who have endured the summer gridlock at that end of town will welcome the bypass completion and hope it will take some vehicular pressure off the existing road system.

Bigfork generosity

The generosity within our Flathead Valley community was evidenced again last week in Bigfork.

When a special fundraising dinner began June 20, the Bigfork Food Bank was $13,000 shy of paying off its building debt.

By the time the night was over, that debt had been met and then some, with donors chipping in $30,000 for the food bank.

The stunning success of the fund drive was the result of the efforts of a dedicated band of charity-minded citizens whose project attracted widespread community interest.

The money will go a long way to help the food bank meet the growing need in Bigfork. The food bank there has seen demand grow steadily over the years. Last year the food bank gave away 69,000 pounds of food; this year it’s on track to more than double that amount.

Fundraisers such as Bigfork’s are part of the fabric of the Flathead that make our valley a better place.