Portions of US2 project progressing

By Roger Morris Western News Reporter

A bid package is being prepared for letting by the end of this year for one of three sections of the proposed Swamp Creek project to improve U.S. Highway 2 south of Libby, state officials announced Thursday at a meeting with local officials and impacted property owners.

However, construction is not expected to begin on the southern most section of the project, from the Fisher River Bridge to about a mile past the top of Waylett's Hill, mile marker 53.8, until 2007, said Dwane Kailey, district administrator for the Missoula state highway district.

Highway engineers are finishing the design for what's being called the Manicke North section. It's expected to cost $6.9 million and includes wider driving lanes, eight-foot paved shoulders on either side of the roadway and a passing lane climbing up Waylett's Hill. There will also be retaining walls on the uphill side of the roadway and guardrails where needed on the downhill side of the road.

The tentative schedule shows the project being let in January 2007 with construction to follow in the spring.

Kailey did say additional money, about $1 million, would have to be identified. The bulk of the cost of the first section would be covered by $6 million earmarked by U.S. Sen. Max Baucus in this year's U.S. Highway appropriation.

"We truly believe we have a buildable project," he said. "We don't have all the money."

The Swamp Creek section of U.S. Highway 2 has been a top priority among local community members and leaders for many years. The state first proposed improvements on the project in 1985 but kept delaying it because of funding problems, and later because of a growing awareness of the enormity of the soil problem in the middle of that 12-mile stretch of Highway 2.

"I want to take responsibility for this project," Kailey said. "This has been a really a nightmare. We're going to turn around and deliver this project as best as we can."

And Kailey admitted that the rural section of highway is dangerous.

"Highway 2 is killing people," he said. "It's not the worst highway in the district but it is killing people."

Libby Mayor Tony Berget and Lincoln County Commissioner Rita Windom expressed their concerns about how the state determines which highway or section of highway is more dangerous than another.

"I'm glad you're getting started," Windom said "But I'm disappointed that the section with the bridges is the most critical with the worst accidents. I'm disappointed you're putting that off."

After the Manicke section is completed, the project schedule — at this point — calls for the Libby Creek South section which goes from mile marker 44.6 (the Libby Creek Bridge) to mile marker 48.6. Bids will be let in January 2009 with work to follow that summer. Estimated cost at this time is $11 million.

The final section to be down is called the Swamp Creek East and is 5.2 miles long stretching from mile marker 48.6 to 53.8. It has an estimated cost of $11 million but neither a bid letting date, a start date nor funding has been identified, Kailey said.

The Missoula district, Kailey explained, receives about $30 million a year with most of the money spent on annual costs and a only about $11 million available for reconstruction work in all of the western part of the state.

"We have no idea about funding for Swamp Creek East," he said. "Don't count on it (the schedule)."

Some residents expressed disappointment in the time table and asked for a lower speed limit through the proposed project area. "The Department of Transportation can't lower the speed limit," he said. "Only the Legislature can do that, or the state highway commission. Before they do that though, they will ask us to do a study."

Windom called such a study a waste of time and money.

"If the local officials tell you it needs to be lowered, it needs to be lowered," she said. "Speed studies don't work."