Park proposes new Swiftcurrent Bridge
<p>A swollen Swiftcurrent Lake overflows the small bridge spanning the outlet of the lake during a flood in November 2012.</p>
Glacier National Park is accepting public comments for a recently completed environmental assessment proposing to replace the historic Swiftcurrent Bridge near the Many Glacier Hotel with a longer, single-span bridge.
The bridge provides the only vehicular and pedestrian access to the Many Glacier Hotel. Park officials say the existing bridge is losing its structural integrity, the deck is severely damaged, and the abutments and piers are in disrepair.
Park officials also say the bridge has limited capacity to handle high water due to the four interior piers. Other concerns include the severely deteriorated concrete curb and sidewalks, loose or missing stone masonry, and the non-code compliant suspension of utility lines on the bridge.
The EA is available online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/SwiftcurrentBridge.
Public comments can be made directly through this Web site or by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: Swiftcurrent Bridge EA, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier MT 59936. Comments are due by March 17.