West Glacier Historical Gateway Project restores iconic West Glacier underpass
Every day, thousands of people enter Glacier National Park through the small village of West Glacier, passing under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad at the intersection of Going-to-the-Sun Road and U.S. Highway 2. Over the past decade, this area has struggled with safety issues, invasive weeds, and has appeared more like a long-forgotten industrial storage site than an entrance to one of America’s most beautiful national parks.
Now, the entrance is attractive with native plantings due to work by the Kalispell Daybreak Rotary Club, The Glacier Park Conservancy, Gateway to Glacier Trails, the West Glacier Preservation Association, Pursuit grounds and their dedicated watering crew, as well as the Center for Native Plants and volunteers who pulled weeds, labeled plants, provided winter cover and snow fencing and removed litter and debris.
Project coordinator Sharon Bengtson said “The West Glacier Gateway Historic Project” began in 2019 with West Glacier residents and Gateway to Glacier Trails members Val Parsons and Terry Divoky, having concerns about the dilapidated state of the underpass entrance.
The Montana Department of Transportation completed the first phase of the project in the spring of 2022. This phase focused on safety and repaired the underpass sidewalk and bike trail interface to create a smooth transition into the walkway under the railroad. Led solely by volunteers, the second phase of the project raised enough funds to complete the landscaping work and spread awareness about the project. The west side garden had beautiful flowers this year and the east side landscaping is in its second year. For the third phase of the project, Montana Department of Transportation, federal and county government offices, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe have agreed to approve, support and facilitate the final clean-up and painting of the structure, however there are no funds to assist with making it happen.
The underpass in West Glacier was inspected recently and is safe and sound. The work that would be required to accomplish the last phase includes sandblasting concrete and metal beams, repairing spalling, applying graffiti washable sealer, repairing metal, handrails where needed, sand blasting, priming, painting and replacing the worn and fading welcome sign on the underpass. Recent hopes of the project becoming part of the Federal Lands Access Program have been dashed, as it is Burlington Northern Santa Fe property.
Organizers wish to thank the Kalispell Daybreak Rotary Club, Pursuit, Glacier Raft, Glacier Highland, Hungry Horse Liquor, Glacier River Ranch, Wild River Adventures, Glacier Park Conservancy, Gateway to Glacier Trails and generous donations from individuals like the late Corinne Lundgren, one of the original gardeners in the historical West Glacier Garden Club. Numerous local and valley residents contributed both large and small donations to help raise the remaining funds. Project organizers hope that the public enjoys seeing a glimpse of the natural beauty visitors will experience in Glacier National Park, starting with the welcoming entrance into the village of West Glacier.