Montana DOT proposes bridge repair on Highway 135

| June 26, 2009 12:00 AM

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is conducting a public meeting to discuss a proposal to repair the bridge deck on the bridge crossing the Clark Fork on Montana 135 between Saint Regis and Paradise.

The project will begin at milepost 12.17 and will run across the bridge to milepost 12.34, for a total of 0.17 miles. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at the St. Regis Community Center, 38 Lobo Loop in St. Regis.

Community participation is a very important part of the process, and the public is encouraged to attend. Opinions, comments and concerns may be submitted in writing at the meeting, by mail to Shane Stack, Missoula District Preconstruction Engineer, MDT, Missoula district office, PO Box 7039, Missoula MT 59807-7039, or online at www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml . Please indicate comments are for project CN 6337 and submit comments by August 10, 2009.

Proposed work includes removing the top part of the bridge deck surface and replacing it with a new concrete overlay. That bridge work will require traffic reduction on the bridge to a single lane for most of the project, with reduced traffic speeds and load and width restrictions on heavy trucks during most of the work. The roadwork will consist of modifying the road surface adjacent to the bridge to match the new bridge surface.

The purpose of the project is to extend the service life of the bridge using cost-effective preservation techniques.

Construction is tentatively planned for 2010, depending on completion of design and availability of funds.

No new right-of-way or utility relocations will be needed.

MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person's participation in any service, program or activity of our department. If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in this meeting, please call Paul Grant at (406) 444-9415 at least two days before the meeting. For the hearing impaired, the TTY number is (406) 444-7696 or 1-800-335-7592, or call Montana Relay at 711. Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request.