Arch may return to Nucleus

An iconic landmark could be returning to Columbia Falls this year.

A group of interested citizens has approached the city about constructing an arch across Nucleus Avenue at U.S. Highway 2.

The group, known as the Centennial Arch Committee of the First Best Place Task Force, would like to construct a Columbia Falls Centennial Arch. The structure is expected to be similar to the arch than spanned the street in the 1960s and 1970s.

"(The arch is' something that's been near and dear to the heart of this community," said Barry Conger, First Best Place executive director. "We're thrilled a group of people that came together want to get something done."

Conger presented plans for the arch to the City Council Tuesday. The city will have to apply to the Montana Department of Transportation for a sign permit to construct the arch because Nucleus Avenue is a state road.

Preliminary conversations about the arch with the MDOT have yielded positive results, he noted.

An early design for the new arch emulates the original one and incorporates timber, steel and stone materials. The idea is to showcase the town's history by using local materials.

The size of the arch is quite large. It would stand 35 feet high at the center and be 85 feet wide across the street. The timber beams in the arch are about four feet tall and 20 feet long. The stone pediments at the base are expected to be 16 feet in size.

"This is a pretty significant landmark," said Conger. "One of our goals is to cause people to want to come into our downtown."

Approval from the state on the sign permit is expected to take about six months. During that time, the committee plans to complete engineering on the project and do fundraising. Much of the labor for the arch has already been donated, Conger said, but about $90,000 still needs to be raised for materials.

The Council did not make a decision Tuesday on whether or not it would submit an application for the arch.

City Manager Bill Shaw told the council he is checking with the city's insurance company to make sure the work will be covered. Normally with such projects the city hires a contractor and that contractor carries insurance on the project.

"I don't think it is difficult," he said. "It's just not typical for us."

Committee members involved in the preliminary work are Don Barnhart, Dave Petersen, Dave Renfrow, Anne Scott-Markel, Gary Sparr, Don Gimbal Sr., Don Gimbal Jr. and Ron Nash.

The council asked Gary Sparr Tuesday what feedback he has gotten on the preliminary design for the arch.

Sparr said he's shown the design to the Chamber of Commerce members and various service clubs in Columbia Falls.

"I haven't had anybody say anything negative about it," he said.

A separate, but connected group, is also working on creating "book-end" signs for the edges of the city. Those signs are expected to serve as another welcome-type sign. Designs for the arch and the signs are expected to be coordinated.

Construction start time for the arch and signs will depend largely on when the MDOT approves permit applications and fundraising is complete.