Work on Sportsman's Bridge underway soon

A narrow two-lane bridge built over the Flathead River in 1955 is up for replacement.

Crews will be in the Flathead River in the coming weeks to study core samples of the river bed below the Sportsman’s Bridge between Somers and Bigfork.

One of the river accesses at Sportsman’s Bridge Fishing Access Site, on the Flathead River will be closed temporarily to allow SK Geotechnical Corporation to perform riverbed core drilling on the downstream side of Sportsman’s Bridge.

The bridge is safe, but is old and narrow and needs replacing, Lori Ryan, information officer with Montana Department of Transportation, said.

She said the bridge may be relocated slightly when replaced, which will result in reconfiguration of the popular river access.

The bridge is to be replaced in 2016.

The Montana Department of Transportation says the north boat ramp at the Sportsman’s Bridge Fishing Access Site in Bigfork will be closed Sept. 4-15.

The southern ramp will remain open. Boaters should be aware of barge and drilling equipment working in the river. Drilling work will be performed during daylight hours, but the barge will remain anchored on the river 24 hours a day.  

Another bridge near Bigfork is also up for replacement.

Construction is tentatively planned for 2016 of the Ferndale bridge on Montana 209 depending on completion of design and availability of funds.