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Section of Old Kalispell Bridge Spared

By Beacon Staff

Part of a 19th century bridge in Kalispell has been spared demolition.

A man who bought a 140-foot section of the Old Steel Bridge for $15,000 says he wants to move his piece of history and put it across the Stillwater River, for pedestrian and bicycle use.

The Old Steel Bridge built in 1894 spanned the upper Flathead River. In 2005, state highway engineers declared the bridge a hazard. Now there are plans to build a new one.

Most of the old bridge will be sold as scrap, but on Friday a crane moved the 140 feet bought by Pete Skibsrud and placed that section in a park.

Skibsrud is allowed to leave it there for about a month. He says he needs to work out the logistics of relocation.