Scattered nails shut down highway

Traffic was rerouted along a major highway between Whitefish and Columbia Falls on Monday afternoon after boxes of nails were scattered across the roadway.

According to the state Department of Transportation, both lanes of Montana 40 were temporarily closed due to the hazard. The nails had fallen in several different locations, starting on Montana 40, from U.S. 90 to U.S. 2, near Hilltop Road in Columbia Falls.

It was deemed too hazardous for travelers to use the roadway and drivers were advised to use alternate routes.

Highway Patrol and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office officers assisted with cleanup and the road was reopened at about 4 p.m.

A suspected vehicle was unknown.