Coram to West Glacier bike path awarded to LHC

The extension of a bike path from Coram to West Glacier should begin this summer, but the route still has to be approved by Montana Department of Transportation, said Gateway to Glacier Trail president Sarah Dakin last week.

The nonprofit trail group has been holding fundraisers for years to come up with the money to meet the matching county grant portion to build seven more miles of the bike path that will run on the west side of U.S. Highway 2.

Flathead County Commissioners awarded the project last week to low bidder LHC, Inc. and approved the construction of the largest alternate, which allows bikers to have a continuous path without having to go on Old Highway 2 for a long portion. Two other smaller alternates were discarded which means the path will still have to use Old Highway 2 at Dew Drop Inn and Halfmoon Lake.

The cost for the approved path is $693,000. The two discarded alternates were $157,000.

“We are so very thankful that the bids came in low, because we were nervous,” Dakin said.

Also this summer, the group is planning to build a welcome kiosk at one of the county parks along Hungry Horse Boulevard. 

The county required that the structure be made of steel, so Bigfork metal artist Jeffrey Funk will build a gazebo out of metal that was scrapped from the Old Steel Bridge that used to be on Holt Stage Road in Kalispell. Funk dissembled the 100-year-old bridge in 2014 with plans to use the project in many ways since there was much material.

The welcome kiosk will have interpretive signs, a map, a donor recognition area and provide an area to park vehicles for bikers getting onto the trail.

The kiosk is partially funded with $5,000 from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, $3,000 from the Whitefish Community Foundation and $5,000 from Flathead Electric’s Roundup for Safety program. The total cost is $40,000, which means they still have more fundraising to do, Dakin noted.

If people are interested in donating to the welcome kiosk, go to the Gateway to Glacier Trail website at www.gatewaytoglaciertrail.com. 

Gateway to Glacier Trail is also fundraising for future maintenance costs. As part of the county grant, the group put up $58,000 for future maintenance, that the county will match, said Valerie Parsons, founder of the group. However, this money will last only about five years.

Parsons said that maintenance is an issue that needs to be studied further.

Gateway to Glacier Trail has two upcoming fundraisers this summer.

The annual Pedal and Paddle for Paths is June 18. It’s a bike ride to Blankenship Bridge and then a float trip down the Flathead River to Columbia Falls. Pre-registration is $30 per rider, $15 per rider ages 8-17, or $50 per family. Pre-register at Hungry Horse Liquor, Freedom Bank or online at www.gatewaytoglaciertrail.com. Pre-registration closes June 17. Late registration at the event from 2-3 p.m. is $40 per rider, $25 for ages 8-17, or $60 per family.

The annual Pints for Paths Brewfest is July 16.