Road and Bridge reports spring prep, Bridge Street bridge progress and Blankenship Bridge work

Dave Frunty, Road and Bridge, updated Flathead County commissioners on road maintenance and construction activity during the department’s monthly report on April 1.

Frunty said March was a transition month: crews completed plowing and sanding and have begun light grading in dry areas, along with sweeping. He cautioned that deeper grading will wait until roads dry to avoid creating worse conditions for the traveling public. The department is still under full weight‑limit restrictions; Frunty said the valley floor typically comes off mid‑April while higher‑elevation restrictions often remain into May. He advised that mid‑April is a reasonable expectation if weather cooperates.

On bridge work, Frunty reported that the Bridge Street bridge project had its first truss set at 9 a.m., with a second truss scheduled for 1 p.m. the same day. He said a stop‑work order issued by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) over tensioning/bolting procedures was lifted and inspectors indicated no schedule impact; the county’s target remains late June for opening, with a hope to have the bridge available near the July 4 holiday.

The Blankenship Bridge project is also underway. Frunty described placement of root wads and successive soil lifts with willow cuttings for bank stabilization. He said several large cottonwood trees in the key‑in area were removed with Forest Service authorization; the contractor quoted $5,000 to cut, load and haul the removed trees to Gladys Glen Pit. Frunty said the county will attempt to cover that with contract unit items if funds remain, or handle the change order at project closeout.

Frunty said cofferdam materials (large aggregate‑filled burlap “super sack” bags) have been removed from the river and that river levels were roughly three feet higher than when the project began, which increased urgency to clear those materials. He described site mud and staging issues at one project area and said cleanup may stretch into June when soils dry; the county will hold the contractor responsible for restoring park stockpile areas the contractor used.

Other points: sweeping began in Bigfork and is progressing north; paving distress and potholes are being monitored for dig‑out patch repairs; and the department’s annual Maccers conference drew about nine or 10 county staff plus attorney participation. Frunty said completion targets are weather‑dependent and he remains “pleased with their progress” where crews can work.