There's still support for Sun Road

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

Despite zooming cost estimates for reconstruction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier Park interests are still saying the road is a good investment.

Last week the Park and the federal Highways Administration said the new estimate is from $240 million to $270 million to reconstruct the highway over the next eight to 10 years — provided that funding is secured and inflation stays at about 6 percent annually.

About $82 million for the project has already been secured.

At $270 million, the cost for the 50 mile road breaks down to about $1,030 a foot.

"Just getting the initial $50 million for the Sun Road was quite an effort, so I'm very concerned about this apparent jump in cost," said Montana Sen. Max Baucus. "I'm still 100 percent committed to making sure the Sun Road is repaired so folks can continue to enjoy Glacier National Park for generations to come. However, this is definitely troubling news and as of right now, no clear solution has presented itself. I've already started working together with Jon (Tester) and Denny (Rehberg) to see what can be done to secure more money and make sure this project is completed."

Rehberg had similar sentiments.

"The Going-to-the-Sun road is a Montana treasure," he said. "Despite the rising costs, we've got to get it repaired. It's too important to the local economy and to our state's tourism in general. As the only member of the Montana's congressional delegation with a seat on the Appropriations Committee, I'll continue to work to secure funding to get the road fixed."

The original estimate was between $140 million to $170 million.

The Park and federal Highways blame ballooning costs in the construction industry over the past few years. Construction costs jumped 19 percent in 2005 and 20 percent in 2006 nationwide. Since a 2004 Sun Road sequencing study was completed, the average cost of construction nationwide has increased by about 50 percent, according to Clara Conner, division engineer for FHWA's Western Federal Lands Highway Division.

But investments in national parks pan out, argues Will Hammerquist of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Hammerquist cites a recent study by NPCA which claims that for every dollar invested in national parks, the local economy nets four dollars.

"Funding our national parks should be a national priority," he said.

He said its up to park interests to "redouble" their efforts to get the Sun Road fully funded.

So far, Montana's Congressional delegation has been doing a good job to that end, he said.

Baucus secured $50 million for the Sun Road in the last highway bill. That funding, which began last year, runs for four years. An additional $32 million was secured the National Park Service's road budget.

But that still leaves the project $158 million to $188 million short in an age when the price of oil and gas — the two main components in road making, show no signs of dropping in price anytime soon, if ever.

But there isn't a panic at this point, noted Dori Muehlhof, executive director of the Flathead Convention and Visitor Bureau.

The agency promotes the Flathead and Kalispell. The No. 1 reason why people come here is for the Park, she noted.

But having said that, the Sun Road reconstruction still has funding for three more years. The tone may be different if no further funding becomes available.