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Road Department reports rapid thaw, spring breakup damage and bridge progress
Summary
Flathead County Road Department staff told commissioners that an abrupt thaw created spring breakup damage on gravel roads, described load limit timing and provided progress updates on the Bridal Street Bridge and other bridge projects.
The Flathead County Road Department reported to commissioners on March 4 that a rapid transition from winter to spring produced early spring-breakup stresses on gravel roads, prompting earlier-than-planned weight restrictions and a program of grading and localized repairs.
Dave Prunty, speaking for the Road Department, said the first 20 days of February felt like winter but a warm spell in late February turned conditions to spring within days. "We went from one extreme to the other," Prunty said. He told commissioners the department placed load limits earlier than originally planned and posted signs to notify carriers; the department also alerted motor carrier services.
Prunty said loggers and haulers raised concerns about shortened notice but that the department had to move to protect roads that were showing early deterioration. He said crews are hopeful many damaged stretches can be restored through grading and routine dig-outs, but some locations will need replacement material.
On bridge projects, Prunty reported progress on the Bridal Street Bridge project north of Full Bridal (as described in the project's federal paperwork). He said utilities have been relocated, abutment footings are nearly complete, and micro-pile drilling reached bedrock at about 65–70 feet. He said Montana Department of Transportation staff visited the out-of-state manufacturer producing the truss and that the schedule currently supports truss arrival in March and erection in April, with the contractor and MDT expressing optimism about opening the bridge in time for Fourth of July activities in Bigfork.
Prunty also updated the board on the Blankenship Bridge stabilization project, noting that Olympus Technical Services moved rip-rap logs to the job site and began aggregate hauling; the county has issued overweight hauling permits for that intensive, time-sensitive work and is coordinating staging and haul routes. He said the work uses a county park staging area and a pit located roughly 3.2 miles north of Highway 2.
Prunty closed by noting that spring breakup so far had not caused notable damage to the paved network but that some gravel roads — including West Spring Creek and Ashley Lake Road — were showing significant distress and would be monitored. "Every breakup is different," he said. "This year it came fast."
Ending: Commissioners thanked Prunty for the update. The report will be used to guide maintenance and budget preparation as the county approaches its spring construction season.
