The project is located on MT-35 from reference post 32.1 near Peaceful Drive to reference post 33.3 near Chapman Hill Road.

The open house will be held in Bigfork on Wednesday, May 22, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Bigfork High School Community Room (600 Commerce St.). The public is invited to visit project displays, ask questions and provide comments on the project. Project team members will be available during the open house to discuss the project.

The proposed project would reconstruct the road to provide a 12-foot travel lane in each direction, a center left-turn lane in the area between Peaceful Drive and approximately the south end of Ice Box Canyon, a raised median barrier through the canyon, and a left-turn lane northbound at Chapman Hill Road.

Roadway shoulder, horizontal curve, clear zone, and drainage improvements will also be included in the roadway reconstruction. Roadside slopes and ditches will be revised to improve safety and the horizontal alignment and drainage features will be upgraded throughout the project. A shared-use path will be included for a portion of the project length.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety by increasing shoulder width for both motor vehicles and bicycles, improving sharp curves and providing new asphalt pavement.

A tentative construction timeframe has not yet been established. Utility relocation and acquisition of new right-of-way are anticipated.

Community participation is an important part of the process, and the public is encouraged to attend. MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s participation in any department service, program or activity. For reasonable accommodations to participate in this meeting or for more information, please contact Project Design Engineer Chuck Nemfakos at (406) 444-9323 at least two days prior to the meeting.

Opinion, comments and concerns may also be submitted in writing at the meeting, by mail to Acting Missoula District Administrator Bob Vosen at the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula office at P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039, or online at:

mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml

Please note that your comments are for project UPN 8182 Ice Box Canyon and submit by June 22, 2019.

Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request by contacting Alice Flesch, Human Resources and Occupational Safety Division, P.O. Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620; (406) 444-9229; TTY (800) 335-7592; fax (406) 444-7243, or e-mail to aflesch@mt.gov.