City OK’s agreement for new bike/pedestrian path

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls City Council recently approved an agreement with the Montana Department of Transportation that OK’s a new shared path and sidewalk from Third Street West up Railroad Street to Eighth Avenue East North.

The city has long awaited a path on that stretch of road, which has plenty of traffic, but no way for pedestrians to stay out of the street.

Work on the project should start this year and was funded through a Montana Transportation Alternative grant.

The total estimated project cost is $1.133 million, with federal and state funding at $981,222. The city has to match just over $152,000 and possibly pay more for additional expenses if there’s an overrun when the project goes out to bid.

The work is being administered by MDT.

Any future maintenance of the path is up to the city.

The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2022 and will serve the new Glacier Gateway School.

In other news of streets:

• The engineering for 12th Avenue West in front of the Cedar Palace is underway and about 35% complete. About half of the project’s estimated $1.2 million cost is paid for by the federal grant. But if it goes over budget, the city will have to pay the difference. The developer is paying more than $300,000.

The city needs permits to bore under the railroad to bring sewer and water to the facility. Once the utilities go in, the street will also be reconstructed as part of the project.

• In early March the city will meet with BNSF Railway officials on site on a quiet zone designation along Railroad Street. A quiet zone requires that some crossings be closed and others modified.

Once that process is done, the trains won’t blow their whistles when they go through town unless there’s an emergency.