Local group makes plea in D.C. for bypass money
A dozen Kalispell and Flathead County officials are in Washington, D.C., this week to voice their support for $15 million in federal funding to convert the south half of the U.S. 93 bypass around Kalispell into a four-lane highway.
The city of Kalispell, acting as the lead local government agency, submitted an application in July in conjunction with the Montana Department of Transportation for a federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, or BUILD grant. The BUILD program replaced the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery or TIGER grant program.
Flathead County Commissioner Pam Holmquist, who is representing the county, said the local delegation met Wednesday with Montana’s congressional delegation, and planned to meet Thursday with federal Department of Transportation officials and representatives of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The local group includes Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson, Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell and Kalispell Assistant Director of Community Development Katharine King, along with Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Joe Unterreiner, Chamber Board Chairman Dave Hergesheimer, and Chamber Board Member Mark Hensley, among others.
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. Ed Toavs, district administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation, said earlier this year he believes the U.S. 93 bypass is a perfect candidate for the federal funding.
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. Also, nearly all of the right of way has been acquired by the state.
If Kalispell is awarded a BUILD grant, the project would entail splitting the four-lane construction of the south-end bypass into two projects, the first starting just north of the Foy’s Lake roundabout and going to the south end of the sound wall. The second half 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 would be eliminated with the four-lane design.
Toavs estimated the total construction costs of completing the U.S. 93 bypass at between $20 million and $25 million. Beyond the BUILD funding, roughly $5 million would come from national highway funding through the state.
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, and as such, the state will move forward with the final four-lane design of the south half, Toavs said.
Features Editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.