Council supports Red Bridge repair

In an effort to take advantage of possible funding opportunities, the City of Columbia Falls is once again throwing its support behind plans to revamp the Red Bridge.

The City Council Monday voted to send a letter reaffirming its commitment to the project to Flathead County Commissioners. The commissioners were expected to meet Wednesday after presstime on the project.

The city, the county, the First Best Place Task Force and the Montana Department of Transportation first signed a memo of understanding agreeing to prioritize the plans to rebuild the bridge for pedestrian use in April 2009.

Barry Conger, executive director of the Task Force, asked the council to write the letter.

"We feel if we don't act now we may not have the opportunity to make this project move forward," Conger said.

Conger said the county is deciding now how to spend state Community Transportation Enhancement Program money. A letter from the city would show how important the Red Bridge project is. The county has $500,000 from that program to spend over the next two years.

The council approved the request.

"We have a number of projects, but I think this one deserves to go to the top," councilman Dave Petersen said. "The letter should say that we stand behind this project and it's a top priority."

There's also the potential to earn funding from the Federal Safe Routes to School. When completed, the bridge could help an estimated 45 students cross the Flathead River without using U.S. Highway 2 to get to school.

"The Safe Routes to Schools program is expected to have more significant money to give out this year, but then that could go away," Conger said.

Since the first agreement, Conger said plans to the pedestrian bridge have been changed and are expected to cost about $843,000.

The Task Force originally wanted to lease the bridge approaches to private businesses, with a cost of about $7.34 million for the entire project. Since then the Task Force has scrapped that part of the plan and has re-engineered it to make the bridge suitable only as a pedestrian path.

The Red Bridge was built in the early 1900s and has survived major flooding. In 1989 it was closed to motorized traffic and remained a foot bridge. Eventually it was completely closed and approaches were torn down. Various movements to rebuild the bridge have come and gone over the years.

Several community members spoke in favor of the project.

Gary Hall, former Columbia Falls mayor and County Commissioner, said he started working on this project 13 years ago.

"Please work with us, we need to strike now," he said.

Paul McKenzie, Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce president, said the chamber is excited about rebuilding the bridge and many of its members have worked on the project.

"I'd like to see this come to fruition," he said.

FLATHEAD COUNTY owns the Red Bridge. Part of the memorandum states that the County agrees to maintain ownership during the period of redevelopment. Later it would consider transferring ownership to Columbia Falls, if all parties agree.

The city council asked if taking ownership still seems feasible.

City Manager Bill Shaw said taking of ownership after the bridge is rebuilt shouldn't be a problem.

"Once it's restored our insurance agents don't have a problem with that," Shaw said.

As part of the agreement, the city has agreed to improve the west approach and connect its walking path from Talbott and Fourth Avenue to the bridge. Total that is expected to cost about $50,000.

Councilman Mike Shepard asked about future costs.

"How would we fund maintenance?" he asked.

Shaw said adding the maintenance costs wouldn't be overwhelming.

"It's a a long term thing. We won't take it over and then need maintenance the next year," he said. "It will be another 15 to 20 years before maintenance becomes an issue."

The City also pledged to prioritize any future CTEP funding it gets to go towards Red Bridge restoration.

"We should see an increase in CTEP next year," Shaw said. "That shouldn't be a problem for the city committing to spend available funding."