Bridge Street – Bigfork – Project Updates

December 13, 2024

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Battle Ridge Builders will begin moving their equipment to the project site next week.

Work on the bridge will also begin, including removing pedestrian walkway parts, loose debris, and timbers from the bridge deck. Crews will also prepare the truss for removal.

All work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Crews will be onsite Monday, December 16, through Friday, December 20, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Work will pause for the holidays from Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, January 1. Crews will return on Thursday, January 2.

We understand residents and visitors will want to visit the project site to see how work is progressing. Please follow all traffic control and posted safety signs. Keep a safe distance from work and equipment.

During construction, the entrances of Bridge Street residences and businesses will not be affected. Sliter’s Park will be used as a staging area for construction and will be closed to the public until the project is complete.

Pedestrians and vehicles must continue to use Grand Drive to access downtown Bigfork. Destinations southwest of the bridge can be accessed using Bridge Street from the Montana Highway 209 (MT 209) or MT 35 turn-offs.

For a preview of the new bridge, a video featuring preliminary renderings of the new structure is now available on the Project Overview page.

December 6, 2024

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Battle Ridge Builders will be surveying and installing traffic control signs next week. Bridge work will begin as soon as the utility companies complete their work.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Bridge Street-Bigfork Open House Celebration. We hope you found the experience enjoyable and informative.

We would especially like to thank the Bigfork Art & Cultural Center for sharing their collection of Bridge Street Bridge historical photos, Bakes and Cakes by Brie for the adorable and delicious bridge-themed cookies, Fieldheads Coffee for the cozy drinks, and the talented Samantha Schurke for sharing her Bridge Street Bridge pottery.

For those unable to attend, the display materials from the open house can now be viewed on the Bridge Street-Bigfork Public Involvement webpage.

October 2024

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Flathead County continue to make significant progress on preparations to replace the Bridge Street Bridge in Bigfork.

The Bridge Street-Bigfork project is currently advertised, where contractors can view plans and ask MDT questions about the project. Bid letting, which involves MDT reviewing bids submitted by contractors, is anticipated to begin next week. The project will be awarded to a contractor in early November, contingent upon successful, qualified bids.

Replacement of the bridge is anticipated to begin this winter. Please note that this schedule is subject to change due to contractor availability, environmental clearances, weather, and possible unforeseen factors.

Utility relocation work has already begun. Northwestern Energy is currently working to relocate the gas line. Preparations to relocate the remaining utilities are also underway. All utilities are anticipated to be moved by early winter 2024. This is a critical step because utilities must be moved off the existing bridge before its removal and subsequent installation of the new bridge.

Save the Date!

An open house celebration is planned for November 21, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bigfork High School. At the event, the community will have the opportunity to learn more about the upcoming bridge replacement and ask questions directly to the project team. More details about the open house will be shared soon.

During construction, updates will be distributed weekly via email, webpage, and text message. To receive text updates, text BIGFORKBRIDGE to 41411.

*Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Texting alerts are not managed by MDT and may have different privacy and security policies. For more information, see https://smstc.us/t41411/.

August 2024

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Flathead County continue to make significant progress on preparations to replace the Bridge Street Bridge in Bigfork.

The team is currently coordinating the relocation of utilities, finalizing design plans, obtaining necessary environmental permits, completing right-of-way negotiations, and acquiring the truss for the new bridge.

The project will be advertised for contractor bids in September and is expected to be awarded in November. Utility relocation work is expected to occur this fall and winter, with construction anticipated to begin in winter 2024/2025. Please note that this schedule is subject to change due to contractor availability, environmental clearances, weather, and possible unforeseen factors.

The project team recently held a virtual listening session with landowners and businesses in the immediate project area to present the information outlined in this email and gather their feedback on construction plans.

An open house is also planned for this fall, where the community can learn more about construction plans and ask questions directly to the project team. More details about the open house will be shared soon.

As construction nears and planning speeds up, project updates will be distributed more frequently. During construction, updates will be distributed weekly via email, webpage, and text message. To receive text updates, text BIGFORKBRIDGE to 41411.

*Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Texting alerts are not managed by MDT and may have different privacy and security policies. For more information, see https://smstc.us/t41411/.

May 2024

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Flathead County have made significant progress since the last update, issued in April.

Progress is being made. It is looking possible that construction could begin in early 2025, with some site work occurring later this year in preparation for bridge replacement. This schedule hinges on many complex issues, including utility relocations, right-of-way coordination, and environmental clearances.

This accelerated timeline is possible due to the cooperation of several agencies and utility companies, along with the hard work and ingenuity of a large team of MDT and County employees.

The team understands the bridge’s importance and the impact of its closure on the Bigfork community. As a result, a tremendous number of resources have been dedicated to this project.

Bridge projects are generally incredibly complex and take many years to complete due to the significant hurdles that must be overcome. These can include design, funding, environmental, and permitting challenges. This has been especially true of the Bridge Street project.

MDT and Flathead County greatly appreciate the community’s support and will continue to update the public on the project’s progress.

April 2024

The following is an update on the Bridge Street Bridge, which was closed on January 31, 2024, due to structural concerns.

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Flathead County closed the Bridge Street Bridge in response to an inspection and other analysis, that determined the structure could no longer reliably carry vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

It was not a hasty decision to close the bridge. MDT understands the bridge's closure is challenging for the village of Bigfork. However, continued use of the bridge for vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic poses too great of a risk for the public’s safety.

MDT makes every effort to be transparent and offer explanations for decisions made by the Department. To be transparent about the bridge’s closure, the most recent inspection reports have been posted on the Bridge Closure Documents webpage.

As outlined in the report, the more than 100-year-old Bridge Street Bridge has severe corrosion issues. The bridge’s condition is beyond simple or temporary repairs.

MDT and Flathead County are investigating ways to expedite the construction schedule in response to the closure. An accelerated schedule is subject to many complex issues, including utility relocations, right-of-way coordination, and environmental clearances.

MDT and Flathead County have received many communications from the public suggesting a temporary bridge be installed. Flathead County, in collaboration with MDT, completed an alternative analysis to assess numerous options for implementing a temporary pedestrian crossing. It was determined that the constraints of project site size, lack of right-of-way, the number of utilities, and other factors make constructing a temporary structure infeasible. A summary of this alternative analysis can be found on the Bridge Closure Documents webpage.

The course of action is to find ways to complete the project as quickly as possible. MDT and Flathead County are evaluating all options for expediting the bridge replacement, including innovative contracting methods and advance coordination with utility companies, landowners, and environmental resource entities. MDT and Flathead County will continue to update the public on new developments and the project’s progress.