Changes considered for tricky junction

Today, 18th Street’s layout between its crossing of Airport Road and 1st Avenue West resembles a dogleg. The road doesn’t shoot straight through from U.S. 93.

That skewed configuration presents a dilemma for polite Kalispell motorists traveling opposite directions on 18th Street when they meet at the intersection with Airport Road. Namely, who should proceed first?

In such circumstances, courtesy can beget congestion and even hazards.

City officials zeroed in on this dogleg when other options for alleviating congestion in the vicinity of Airport Road stalled.

The current plan, which is open to comment, would abandon the block of 18th Street between Airport Road and 1st Avenue West and carve a new connection a short distance north - cutting through a vacant lot owned by the city.

The state had rejected the idea of installing new traffic lights at two U.S. 93 intersections in south Kalispell.

Why?

Traffic is increasing in the vicinity of Airport Road and U.S. 93.

And there is a dearth of places where pedestrians can safely cross U.S. 93 south of 13th Street. So, the city thought a couple of new lights might make sense.

But it seems traffic counts aren’t high enough yet to warrant new traffic signals. That’s according to the Montana Department of Transportation.

That conclusion required planners with the city of Kalispell and consulting firm WGM Engineering of Kalispell to consider other solutions to increases in congestion the city attributes to the opening of Rankin Elementary School and new subdivisions planned or under construction along Airport Road.

“It became apparent early on that roundabout options for any intersection did not rank very high among community members,” the city noted.

The city also wants to improve traffic flow into and out of downtown along 1st Avenue East and 1st Avenue West.

The city has money from the South Kalispell/Airport Tax Increment Financing district to make improvements to the neighborhood, said Tom Jentz, director of Planning and Building Development. This TIF closes out in June 2020, he said.

The option being proposed to City Council is the least expensive of several options considered, Jentz said, and also provides a pair of companion benefits.

The volunteer board of the Kalispell Urban Renewal Agency recommends that city council consider changes that would, among other things, pave a vacant city lot and add about 150 parking spaces that could be used for Legends Stadium. The lot has remained vacant as a “clear zone” for an approach to the airport.

Specifically, the alterations proposed would:

- Eliminate the uneven jog where 18th Street intersects with 1st Avenue West by closing this section of street. Jentz said the owner of an adjacent trailer park supports this closure.

- Construct a new connection between Airport Road and 1st Avenue West through a lot owned by the city.

- Pave the vacant lot, providing stadium parking and a place for the public works department to store snow during winter.

Kalispell’s Planning and Building Department and other city staff offer several options for comment about the plan.

An open house will be held Wednesday at City Council chambers from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 201 First Avenue East. Comments can be emailed to planning@kalispell.com. Or people can call the planning department at (406) 758-7940.

In addition, City Council will consider the recommendations during a work session set for Oct. 22, beginning at 7 p.m.

If council OKs the project as designed, work would begin this spring and summer.

Reporter Duncan Adams may be reached at dadams@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.