County plows clear downtown Bigfork

Snow that accumulated over the last two weeks is on its way out of downtown Bigfork as businesses and drivers alike breathe a sigh of relief.

Beginning around 3 a.m. Thursday morning, Flathead County plows and road department head Dave Prunty began working to remove excessive snow from Electric Avenue, Osborn Avenue, Grand Avenue and River Street. Following recent snow storms, snow berms measuring 4 to 5 feet high and a lane wide were crowding the high traffic downtown streets, limiting parking and lane width.

“We were all happy to see [the plows],” said Paul Mutascio, president of Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork. “Kudos to the county for helping us out.”

Crews worked through the day Thursday, using dump trucks and front-end loaders to clear the roads. Crews planned to return Friday, weather permitting, to finish.

By noon on Thursday, Bigfork Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rebekah King said Electric Avenue was snow free and “beautiful.”

Diagonal parking spaces on the west side of Electric Avenue were once again available for use, and businesses on both sides of the downtown strip became more accessible.

Depending on the year and the amount of snow accumulation, Mutascio said the county typically has to come in twice a year to do this kind of major snow removal.

During periods of lighter snow, businesses either hire out or take on the removal themselves, shoveling the sidewalks and pushing the snow into the streets to be plowed.

The large amount of snow in recent days affected some businesses, requiring at least one to adjust the timing of scheduled sales when the weather slowed business.

Both King and Mutascio expressed their gratitude to the county for helping make Downtown Bigfork a snow-free, accessible place for residents, businesses and commuters.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.