MDT closes Bridge Street Bridge indefinitely

Bigfork residents will have to find a new way to navigate downtown for the foreseeable future as The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) announced the immediate closure of the Bridge Street Bridge due to structural concerns Wednesday.

The bridge, which crosses the Swan River and connects downtown Bigfork to MT 35 will be closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic starting today.

During its most recent regular inspection of the bridge, the Montana Department of Transportation determined that the bridge can no longer reliably carry traffic and was compelled to close it due to public safety concerns.

“Plans continue to move ahead for the replacement of the current bridge; however, due to the structure’s condition, early closure of the bridge due to reliability concerns has always been a possibility,” Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula District Administrator, said. “We understand the closure is inconvenient, but safety is the top priority. We thank the community for their patience and cooperation and encourage residents to reach out with any questions or concerns.”

In coordination with Flathead County, barriers will be placed at each end of the bridge and advanced warning signage will also be installed to notify drivers of the closure. 

The closure will only affect the areas immediately next to the bridge and the bridge itself. The entrances of area residences and businesses will not be affected.

Pedestrians and vehicles will be required to use Grand Drive to access downtown Bigfork. Sliter’s Park and other destinations southwest of the bridge can be accessed using Bridge Street from the MT 209 or MT 35 turn-offs.

The Montana Department of Transportation is preparing to replace the existing Bridge Street Bridge with a new structure that will allow heavier loads, including emergency vehicles, and honors the past iconic bridge with a matching steel truss shape and single travel lane. 

The new bridge will also feature an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pedestrian walkway.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2026.  

In response to this closure, MDT is investigating ways to expedite the schedule, but timelines are subject to change due to factors such as funding availability, availability of contractors, utility and right-of-way coordination and other unforeseen issues.

Those with questions or concerns can email Sloane Stinson at Sloane@bigskypublicrelations.com or call the project hotline at 406-207-4484, which operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

For more information about the Bridge Street - Bigfork project, visit http://bit.ly/BridgeStreetBigfork.