Commission approves Bigfork bridge plan

Flathead County Commissioners unanimously voted to accept a plan to replace Bigfork’s historic one-lane bridge Thursday.

The village’s steel bridge crossing the Swan River is more than 100 years old. Due to corrosion, the span is capped at a three-ton load limit. That’s the lightest limit allowed before closure.

For roughly a year, KLJ Engineering has worked with officials from Flathead County and the Montana Department of Transportation and Bigfork residents to find a solution.

Thursday county commissioners voted to accept the plan that came from the Swan River Bridge steering committee to replace the bridge with a similar model.

The plan will keep the Bridge Street bridge as a one-way street with a pedestrian sidewalk beneath a steel truss.

A statement from Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork President Paul Mutascio said the commissioners are moving forward by requesting the state begin shaping the engineering plan.

Mutascio said the project is most likely several years out as the state, county and community seeks funding for the effort.

Kent Barnes, a bridge engineer with the state department of transportation, said during the commissioner’s meeting that the program that funds bridge projects throughout the state is already slotted for projects for years to come.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.