Grant eyed for U.S. 93 bypass completion

State highway officials in western Montana are eying a new federal grant program that could help them convert the south half of the U.S. 93 bypass around Kalispell into a four-lane highway.

Ed Toavs, the Missoula District administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation, and other department officials met with the Flathead County commissioners last week to discuss road projects planned for the county this year.

Acknowledging the peak-hour traffic congestion at the roundabouts on the south half of the bypass, Toavs said he’d like the state to tap into a federal funding program that is offering $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD program, that has replaced the pre-existing Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery or TIGER grant program.

The BUILD transportation grants are for investments in surface transportation infrastructure and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. Toavs believes the U.S. 93 bypass is a perfect candidate for the federal funding.

The south half of the bypass was completed as a two-lane highway in 2009. The four-lane north half opened in 2016.

The state intends to split the four-lane construction of the south-end bypass into two projects, the first starting just north of the Foy’s Lake roundabout and continuing to the south end of the sound wall. The second project would create a four-lane highway from the south end of the sound wall through the Airport Road roundabout and connect to the main U.S. 93 artery.

The roundabouts — which were always intended to be temporary traffic-calming devices, Toavs said — will be eliminated when the four-lane construction begins.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist said the early morning rush hour, at about 7:45 a.m., creates traffic congestion at the roundabouts that she described as “horrible.”

“We looked at the first project, and it wouldn’t take a great deal of effort to finish the design,” Toavs said. “We’ve acquired nearly all the right of way. There’s just a little sliver left and if we can’t get it we can design around it. It’s a very low-risk project for delivery.”

The heavy use of the bypass, congestion at the roundabouts and the bypass’ regional significance make it a good prospect for BUILD funding, Toavs said.

“The Kalispell bypass is still recognized as a project of regional significance,” he said. “We’re seeing a lot of use and lots of congestion and we’re getting public comment.”

In addition to improved traffic flow with a four-lane highway, the completed bypass also would produce safety and environmental benefits, Toavs said. It actually would improve air quality, he added, by allowing commercial vehicles to travel through more efficiently with “less stop and go.”

Toavs has submitted the south-half bypass project to the director of the state Department of Transportation for consideration for a BUILD grant. Other highway districts throughout Montana also are submitting their top projects, and the state director will decide this summer which three finalists to submit to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will select the successful projects in December.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 made available $1.5 billion for national infrastructure investments using BUILD transportation discretionary grants, through Sept. 30, 2020.

For this round of BUILD grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, and no more than $150 million can be awarded to a single state. At least 30 percent of funds must be awarded to projects located in rural areas, according to the federal highway department website.

Toavs estimated the total construction costs of completing the U.S. 93 bypass at between $20 million and $25 million.

Even if the bypass isn’t picked for a BUILD grant, it remains the top unfunded project for the national highway system in western Montana, Toavs said, and as such, the state will continue to move forward with the final four-lane design of the south half.

“If you have a project like this ready it can compete for funds,” Toavs said. “We want to be in a position that it’s ready.”

Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.