$3.3 million in funding for U.S. 2 bridge

The U.S. 2 bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River near Hungry Horse is a treacherous one — narrow, pockmarked with patches and potholes, and the scene of numerous accidents over the years.

Last week, the Forest Service announced $3.3 million in funding from the Federal Lands Access Program will go toward replacing the aging bridge with a new, wider structure. The funding became available after it was determined that much of the bridge’s traffic is accessing federal lands.

The bridge provides key access to Glacier National Park, the Flathead National Forest and the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

The total cost to replace the bridge is about $15 million. The Montana Department of Transportation will develop a time line for the bridge replacement in the coming months, said MDT rail, transit and planning administrator Lynn Zanto.

“The project is a priority, and schedules are being developed,” she said last week.

Congress authorized the funding for fiscal years 2013 and 2014. Funding beyond 2014 will depend on reauthorization of the programs by Congress, Zanto said, which makes it difficult to create a firm time frame at this point for the bridge replacement project.

Matching funds requirements also must be addressed for each project. The next step in the process calls for the Western Federal Lands Highway Division to develop funding agreements with state and local agency partners. Zanto said money from the last federal highway bill would be used to complete the project.

Two other roads in Flathead County also will see funding, including $1.4 million for the Blacktail Road that accesses Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, and $2.9 million to relocate the Pleasant Valley Road, which runs through the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge.