Kalispell City Council gets briefing on transit projects

Adrian Knowler, Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
Updated ·2 min read

Jun. 21—The Montana Department of Transportation is currently selecting contractors to design and construct a new expanded intersection between Whitefish Stage Road and West Reserve Drive.

Justin Juelfs, the Kalispell-area maintenance chief for the Montana Department of Transportation, apprised Kalispell City Council of the development at its June 12 work session. Juelfs delivered the update as part of a briefing on the state department's projects in and around the city.

The project to improve the notoriously congested intersection received $25 million in federal funding last December. West Reserve Drive is expected to be widened from three to five lanes, including a center turn lane for about 0.8 of a mile.

Plans also include reconstructing the Stillwater River bridge and widening it consistent with the roadway. The scope of the work is expected to include sidewalks on each side, and add landscape boulevards with shared use paths and sidewalks for separated pedestrian and bicycle users.

Juelfs briefed the council on the state highway department's other activity, including urban pavement preservation in the city limits this summer.

The department's maintenance agenda includes mill fill on East and West Reserve drives, mill fill and seal and cover on Conrad Drive, Woodland Avenue and Airport Road, and a seal and cover project on Whitefish Stage Road.

Juelfs said the pavement preservation jobs will occur until Sept. 23.

The department also will undertake multi-use trail maintenance in and around Kalispell, paid for through federal Transportation Alternative grants. Juelfs said that the department received all the grants it applied for under this program for local projects.

Also currently underway is a mill fill and chip seal on U.S. 93 north of Reserve Drive.

Juelfs reported that a grade-change and repaving of 9.6 miles of Montana 206 to improve safety has been completed, although the newly paved portion of road still needs to be sealed.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.

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