Project aims to restore underpass gateway to Glacier Park

The gateway into the west entrance of Glacier National Park may soon be getting a facelift.

The Friends of West Glacier Historical Gateway, a part of the nonprofit Gateway to Glacier Trail organization, has launched a Gofundme campaign to help restore the BNSF railroad underpass at the entrance to West Glacier.

The group is hoping to use a three-phase process to help restore the structure, built in 1936, to its former glory.

“Everyone drives through this underpass all the time and they don’t think about it because they are headed towards the beauty of Glacier Park, but this underpass has been looking pretty beleaguered for a while now,” organizer Sharon Bengston said. “We want the underpass to really showcase the character of West Glacier.”

According to fellow organizer Mary McClelland, the underpass has been periodically refurbished up by community members over the decades since its construction, but is once again in need of work.

“The underpass is in need of sprucing up again and it falls right into the West Glacier Vision Plan, which aims to preserve the sense of place and character of the area,” she said. “It’s going to take a community effort, but it’s something that is important to the community that lives here. This is something that isn’t just appreciated by residents and businesses here, this is something that is appreciated by all the visitors that come through here.”

The proposed West Glacier Vision Plan is meant to “identify key community values for West Glacier that can guide planning and policy improvements, aid in decision-making on community character, land use, development and redevelopment, public services and facilities, economic development and transportation."

To date, the group’s Gofundme page has raised $1,250 toward the goal of $50,000 needed to help begin the project, the total cost of which is estimated to be approximately $300,000.

WORKING IN collaboration with the Montana Department of Transportation and BNSF Railway, the Friends of West Glacier Historical Gateway hopes to begin work on the project in the spring with the landscape beautification phase. This part of the project aims to eliminate weeds, built-up gravel and trash on the property adjacent to the overpass and reestablish a garden adjacent to the underpass that was first planted by the West Glacier Ladies Garden Club decades ago. Working with the Center for Native Plants, organizers plan to fill the garden with local flora.

In addition to the cost of the landscaping, $16,000, the initial fundraising also will go to help pay for scoping and planning documents for the remainder of the project.

Also next spring, the group hopes to complete a second phase of the project that would see the state Department of Transportation widen the bike and pedestrian path that leads to the narrow sidewalk that goes beneath the railroad in the underpass.

THE THIRD phase of the project involves the restoration of the railroad overpass, including the removal of old paint and power-washing of all surfaces as well as the application of an anti-graffiti sealer and repairing of any cracked concrete.

Metal handrails would be repaired where needed, sand blasted, primed and painted and welcome signs will be replaced.

While the third phase would result in some disruption to traffic flow, organizers are confident the work could be completed quickly.

The first two phases of the project could be completed as early as late spring, but the restoration work on the overpass could take several years before it could be completed.

“Right now, our most pressing thing is trying to raise the funds to do the landscaping. That is one of the most visible aspects of this project and perhaps something we can complete and draw more attention to the project,” Bengston said. “Good change takes time. We will get there, but it might just take a little while.”

Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at 406-758-4446 or jweber@dailyinterlake.com.