Deerlick Bridge replaced by next fall

The Montana Department of Transportation started recently to replace the Deerlick Creek Bridge on U.S. Highway 2 east of West Glacier. The two-year project will focus on a small section of the highway between mile marker 161 and 161.3. Initial work is off of the roadway with minimal traffic impact. Operations will occasionally require lane closures and short delays within the work zone. Drivers may experience delays up to 15 minutes, reduced speed of 35 mph, single lane use, traffic controlled by signal lights and flaggers.

The structure will be complete fall 2016, project manager Jason Livingston said.

This year the contractor, Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls, is loading dirt on the banks of the creek to improve the poor soil conditions before bridge construction can begin. The dirt will sit over the winter until the weather is good enough, they expect this will be in April.

The original wood bridge was built in the early 1950s and needed to be replaced. The new structure will be a single span bridge with steel girders. The bridge supports will no longer be in the creek.

The bridge will be built next to the old bridge to reduce traffic impact. The wood bridge will be removed once traffic has been moved to the new crossing.

“There will be very little impediment to traffic,” Livingston said.