Bigfork bridge repair options discussed at open house

The Montana Department of Transportation and Flathead County are in the final stages of determining how to keep Bigfork’s iconic, yet decaying, Swan River Bridge. 

A study has worked through options to bring the 102-year-old bridge up to safety standards by either repairing or replacing it. The two organizations started presenting those ideas to the Bigfork community in April.

A third open house will take place Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Bigfork Elementary School cafeteria, located at 600 Commerce St. The meeting will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a presentation at 5:30 p.m.

Wade Salyards with the Montana Department of Transportation said previously that the department was trying to weave the community’s priorities into repair possibilities for the bridge.

“We’re really aiming to avoid any backlash with this project by including the community from the very beginning,” he said. “We knew this was going to be a very passionate topic for Bigfork because of the history, and we want that to be part of the planning process.”

The one-lane steel bridge crosses the Swan River and leads to Bigfork Bay.

Due to corrosion, the bridge has a three-ton load limit — the lowest limit acceptable before closure.

The Swan River Bridge Steering Committee last met with roughly 50 community members in August to present seven options for the historic bridge.

The Dec. 1 meeting will review results from previous meetings, review Steering Committee conclusions and allow public comment on the Draft Final Feasibility Study before the departments present final drafts to the Flathead County Commission.

The bridge was registered as an historic place in 2015.

Built by A.Y. Bayne & Company of Minneapolis in 1912, the existing steel structure replaced a 10-year-old wooden bridge when the existing structure was condemned by the county.

The county paid $4,400 for the original bridge.

In the last 104 years, major construction projects included the addition of a sidewalk and replacement of guardrails. In 2012, the county repaired some of the road’s potholes and added handrails to the sidewalk.

Comments and concerns about the bridge can be submitted in writing at the meeting, by mail to Ed Toavs, Missoula District Administrator, at MDT’s Missoula District office at P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039 or online at: www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml

Comments for project are identified as UPN 9020-SWAN-RIVER-BRIDGE-STUDY and should submitted by Jan. 3, 2017 to be considered during project development.

MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s participation in any service, program or activity of our department. Those requiring accommodations to participate in the meeting, please call Jan Nesset at (406) 556-4707 at least two days prior to the meeting.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.