The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will be resurfacing several roads showing severe cracking and roughness in central Kalispell this spring and summer. Beginning in April, workers will fix uneven areas, seal cracks and apply fresh pavement to the following roadways:
- East Center Street from South Main Street to Woodland Avenue
- 7th Street West from 5th Avenue West to South Meridian Road
- 7th Avenue West from West Center Street to 11th Street West
- East Evergreen Drive from U.S. Highway 2 to Helena Flats Road
- Foys Lake Road from the intersection of 7th Street West and South Meridian Road to the end of the curb and gutter from the U.S. Highway 93 Bypass
Crews will also make final adjustments to water valves and complete chip sealing on North Meridian Road, which was repaved last fall. Additionally, three intersections along 7th Street West will be brought into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Textured areas, known as truncated domes will be installed on sidewalk ramps to help alert visually impaired individuals that they are entering a roadway.
Collectively, work on all of these roadways is known as the Kalispell Urban project. The first phase of construction is slated to conclude this spring, weather depending. Crews will return in the summer for chip sealing and striping to complete the project. A chip seal is a coating that provides traction and helps prevent water from seeping into the asphalt, thereby extending the life of the roadway.
This type of pavement preservation helps improve the condition of the road while increasing its longevity at a fraction of the cost of more intensive rehabilitative efforts. Much like regularly changing the oil in a car, the Montana Department of Transportation crews and contractors work to protect pavement with regularly scheduled maintenance projects around the state, such as Kalispell Urban.
Major rehabilitations can be extremely expensive and cause extensive traffic disruptions for months at a time, whereas pavement preservation projects cost less and minimize disruptions to the traveling public.
Workers will operate during the daytime beginning at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Every effort will be made to minimize the effects of construction, but residents along the project may hear some noise. Intermittent lane closures and possible road closures are anticipated, but duration will be limited and more information will be provided at a later date.
Drivers are also reminded to use caution when traveling through construction zones and to abide by all signage and flaggers present for the safety of all involved. Once the project is finished, the surfaces of all six roads will be smooth and more durable.
This article provided by Big Sky Public Relations on behalf of MDT. For more information about the Kalispell Urban project, call the Montana Department of Transportation hotline at 406-207-4484 or email Mackenzie@bigskypublicrelations.com. This is not a city project. This information is being provided on the City of Kalispell website as a courtesy to Kalispell residents who will be affected by this project.