The Montana Department of Transportation is nearing the final stages of connecting the U.S. 93 Alternate Route in Kalispell between U.S. 2 and U.S. 93, and state officials are hosting an upcoming public meeting to discuss the latest construction plans.
The proposed roadway will construct four travel lanes and provide the final connection of the eight-mile route for traffic traveling from north to south of Kalispell with grade-separated interchanges at U.S. 2, Three Mile Drive, Four Mile Drive and Old Reserve Drive (formerly Reserve Loop).
The project will also complete a shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians covering the entire eight-mile length of the Bypass. The path links to the U.S. 93 shared-use path that heads south to Somers and the path also links to the Ashley Creek Rails-to-Trails Corridor that heads west along U.S. 2. Construction on the final stages began in April and is expected to continue through 2017.
The new improvements will result in the permanent closure of Parkridge Drive between Stillwater Road and Baron Way. Parkridge Drive was planned as a temporary roadway, to be in place only until the four-lane, high-speed route was built, according to MDT. To reduce traffic noise intrusion into nearby homes located in the Empire Estates subdivision, construction will also include noise walls on both the west and east edges of the new Bypass. The walls will be 12′ or less in height and extend from Three Mile Drive to north of the (current) Parkridge Drive. Right-of-way acquisition is complete for this project. Utility relocation will be required.
There will be an open house meeting on Wednesday, June 18, at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, Ballroom A, 20 N. Main St., to discuss the Parkridge Drive closure, the proposed noise walls and construction updates. The open house will run from 6 to 9 p.m. with a short presentation at 7:15 p.m.
Community participation is a very important part of the process, and the public is encouraged to attend, according to MDT. Comments and concerns may be submitted in writing at the meeting, by mail to Ed Toavs, Missoula, District Administrator, at MDT’s Missoula district office at PO Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039 or online.
Commenters should indicate that their feedback is for project UPN 2038018. Comments must be submitted by July 18.
RELATED: Kalispell Bypass Listed as Priority in State’s Construction Plans