South Fork Bridge closed Saturday morning

The bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River will be closed early Saturday morning.

The brief closure is from 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. During this time, the bridge will be closed to the traveling public as crews will put an asphalt overlay on the old bridge.

Sletten Construction crews are currently constructing a new bridge over the South Fork of the Flathead River, which will replace the existing structure.

The anticipated completion date of the new bridge is November 2018, weather permitting. The existing bridge will remain in use while construction on the new bridge continues. However, due to the deteriorating condition of the current structure’s bridge deck surface, Montana Department of Transportation has determined that maintenance will be required to accommodate the high volume of traffic anticipated in 2017 and 2018.

To ensure the current structure is appropriately maintained through 2018, crews will be complete a fresh overlay of the bridge deck. The overlay will smooth out the bridge’s uneven surface and limit further deterioration while the bridge remains in use.

The bridge’s narrow roadway will require Sletten Construction to fully close access across the bridge while the overlay is completed. Travelers are encouraged to use alternate routes or plan additional travel time during this short period on the morning of July 22. Motorists can still cross the river at Blankenship if need be.

Questions or concerns may be addressed to Sletten Construction Company Project Manager Zachary Zupan at 406-564-2548.