Stormwater project begins
Construction on the final phase of the Bigfork Stormwater project is about to begin.
Engineers, contractors and Bigfork locals walked the length of the project Tuesday, before construction begins next week.
The stormwater project was initiated in 2007 to address some minor flooding in Bigfork, as well as an old, inefficient stormwater system. The project is designed to reduce stormwater pollutants running into Bigfork Bay, the Swan River and Flathead Lake. The project was divided into four phases; the first three were completed in 2011.
The last phase of the project will address the north and south sides of Bridge Street. Strom drain systems will run along the roads to the historic one-lane bridge where they will then empty into catch basins. Water from the system will empty into filters on either side of the bridge, removing pollutants before going into the bay.
The north side of the project will begin on Electric Avenue and run from Pocketstone Café and Garden Bar to the bridge. The south side will address Bridge Street from Montana 35 and Montana 209 to the bridge. Curbs and gutters will be installed, along with sidewalk.
The Flathead County commissioners last Wednesday unanimously approved the annual assessments for a newly created Rural Special Improvement District that will fund the last phase of the project.
The special tax district will raise $1.2 million of the $2.9 million total cost by levying taxes on 563 properties in Bigfork over a 20-year period.
The annual cost will be $138 per property annually for the construction of the stormwater improvements. A maintenance fee of $29.54 annually will fluctuate slightly each year, depending on the actual maintenance costs.
The project will start next week, and end around Nov. 20. LHC is the contractor for the project.
The county has pushed the construction start date back as far as possible to not interfere with downtown Bigfork’s busy season. The only Bigfork event that conflicts with the project is the second annual Chalk ‘n Rock Festival.
Jay McMillan with LHC said the north section of the project should move fairly smoothly, although the south section presents more challenges.
Since approval of the project plans have changed slight on the south side of the project due to initial plans affecting property owned by Pacficorp.
Large rock outcroppings, gas lines and narrow areas will also make the south side of the project more difficult.
Rollover curbs and sidewalk will be added on one side of the road from Sliters Park to Montana 35.
Bridge Street will also be entirely repaved and contoured to direct water into the stormwater system.
Bridge Street will be closed during portions of the project. The road from the south end of Electric Avenue down to the bridge may also experience some closures during the project. However, McMillan said having the road closed would allow them to complete work faster.
Contractors hope to have everything run on schedule and weather cooperate so paving can be completed before winter, however there is a possibility that paving, which can only be done in good weather, might have to wait until the spring.
“We definitely appreciate being in your town, and we really do try to respect it,” Brett Walcheck with 48 North engineering said. But he also asked for patience at the project commences.
“McMillan’s got a heck of a task in front of him in a short time frame.”
A report released at the end of 2014 showed that the first three phases of the stormwater project were working well. The project reduced pollution of total suspended solids by at least 75 percent, and there was a 50 percent reduction in phosphorus and nitrogen.
The project also reduced the human health risk associated with recreational contact exposure to pathogens discharged into a water body, the report stated. Constituents associated with road de-icing were also reduced, the report said.
The report stated that according to estimated loading of nutrients, completing the Bridge Street section of the project would have the highest return on investment.