Blankenship Bridge closes for repairs

The Blankenship Bridge north of Columbia Falls will be closed to traffic on Friday, Sept. 27 for necessary repairs.  

The closure is expected to run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

An inspection by the Montana Department of Transportation earlier this summer prompted a structural analysis by Morrison-Maierle Engineering in August. The analysis revealed that the bridge required a temporary 5-ton weight restriction for safety until repairs could be completed.  

Helena-based contractors, Missouri River Contractors/Frontier West LLC, have been hired by Flathead County to perform the repairs at an estimated cost of $6,775.  

The work will begin with drilling a “stop hole” at the end of a 3-inch crack found at the base of a beam during MDT’s inspection. Repairs are anticipated to be completed by 5 p.m. on Friday after which the bridge will be reopened.  

The Montana Department of Transportation will conduct a follow-up evaluation of the bridge in October, with a potential reassessment of the current weight restriction, according to a release from the county.