County road-dust program in 10th year

A cost-sharing program that offers dust-abatement to residents who live near rural gravel roads is being offered again this year.

Letters and applications have been sent to past participants, but the program is open to any interested in the cost-sharing program. Applications are due to the Flathead County Road Department by March 16.

Last year the county applied dust palliatives to 83 miles of county gravel roads, according to county Public Works Director Dave Prunty.

“We used three spray trucks and completed the work in just over two weeks,” Prunty told the county commissioners during his monthly report last week. “It was our best year yet for the program.”

The program began in 2009 with the county splitting the cost of applying magnesium chloride to sections of county roads at least a half-mile long.

Prunty said his department opted to require three spray trucks instead of two again this year to get the application done in a timely manner.

“There have been years that we didn’t complete the project until mid-July and the customers that were at the end of the project were disappointed with how late the material was sprayed on their road,” he said.

The optimal time for applying the palliative is in mid to late June.

“If we can be done by the July 4th holiday, that’s what the public wants,” Prunty added.

Residents interested in participating may stop by the Road Department at 1249 Willow Glen Drive in Kalispell to pick up an application form, or download the form from the Road Department’s website, flathead.mt.gov/roads_bridges/downloads.php.