U.S. 2 options presented for Canyon

Proposals for a fix to traffic woes on U.S. Highway 2 through Bad Rock Canyon at a meeting last week ranged from tunnels to a series of bridges, but even if a final design is approved, construction is likely seven or more years away.

That was the gist of the message from Montana Department of Transportation officials and DOWL HKM project managers on April 10 at the Hungry Horse Ranger District offices in Hungry Horse. Several scenarios were presented to improve traffic flow and safety through the 2.4-mile section of U.S. 2 from the House of Mystery to Hungry Horse.

DOWL HKM is under contract to complete a preliminary plan and assessment of the highway section, which saw 77 accidents from 2006-2010 and a crash rate 246 percent higher than the statewide average for comparable roads.

Alternatives include:

• Follow the existing alignment but soften curves on the west and east ends of the project. The bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River would be replaced.

Whether it ends up a four-lane or two-lane, the highway would extend out over the mainstem of the Flathead River to avoid disturbing the geology of Bad Rock Canyon, which is considered an archeological and historic site by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Utility issues must be addressed, including a high-pressure main gas line, fiber optic cables and a power line.

• Tunnel through the mountain behind Berne Park and then return close to the original alignment east of the canyon. The South Fork bridge would be replaced.

• Cross the river with three bridges — one at the mouth of the canyon across the mainstem of the Flathead River to below Teakettle Mountain, a second bridge back to the east side of the canyon, and a third bridge across the South Fork.

• Avoid the canyon entirely by building a road up the flank of Columbia Mountain and then down to Hungry Horse, replacing the South Fork bridge.

All the options include a pedestrian bikeway, but they don’t settle whether the highway would be a two-lane or four-lane. In some scenarios, one lane of traffic could be elevated over the other lane of traffic.

Members of the audience of about 30 people didn’t embrace any one concept over the other. They noted bridges in the canyon could ice up in winter, and a road up the side of Columbia Mountain would have significant elevation gain and be difficult for truck traffic. Some seemed to like the idea of a tunnel, since it would preserve most of the canyon’s natural beauty.

Others wondered why consultants didn’t consider simply slowing traffic speeds down to 35 or 40 mph, with traffic-control measures like rumble strips. Travelers would enjoy the scenery more, and lower speeds would reduce accidents, they said. Slowing traffic down would also be cost-effective and could help the economy in Hungry Horse, they said.

All alternatives would be expensive, project manager Sarah Nicolai said, and therein lies a far bigger rub — Congress has yet to pass a long-term highway funding bill. Even if it does, this project currently isn’t included in the state’s five-year highway plan, MDT engineer Shane Stack said.

Project developers expect to narrow down the alternatives to a preferred plan by mid-summer and come back to the public with its findings in August. The public can comment on the project and view alternatives online at www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/badrock.