State hosting open houses on Montana 37 bridge work plans

The Montana Department of Transportation and Forsgren Associates are inviting the public to learn more about planned improvements on 11 bridges on Montana Highway 37 between Libby and Eureka.

An in-person open house will be held on Thursday, April 27, at Lincoln County High School, 340 9th St. in Eureka. The public is invited to stop by anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Project staff members will be available to share information about the needed bridge repairs and anticipated construction activities, and answer questions from the public.

Two virtual open houses will be held online via Zoom on Tuesday, April 25, from noon to 1 p.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m. To register for a virtual open house and learn more, visit the project website at mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/mt37bridge.

These online events are an opportunity for the public who are unable to attend the in-person open house to learn more about the planned bridge repairs and ask questions. Both virtual open houses will provide identical information.

In 2020, the Department of Transportation and Forsgren Associates evaluated 11 bridges, developed preliminary plans to rehabilitate them and presented them to the public.

Forsgren Associates then refined the engineering designs and plans for construction. The final designs for improvements will be shared at the open houses for public input.

“These bridges were built between 1959 and 1974 and are in need of repairs and some routine maintenance to keep them up to standard,” said DeWayne Wilson, MDT Missoula District Bridge Engineer. “The MDT Bridge Bureau inspects Montana’s bridges on a regular basis and these bridges are safe to drive on. The recommended repairs will keep them functional for many years to come.”

Once design plans are finalized, these bridges will be eligible for construction. Construction could begin as early as 2024 dependent on the availability of funding.

Questions and comments can be sent to Brandon Coates, Public Involvement Manager, by email at brandon@rbci.net or by phone at 406-465-3350.

The Department of Transportation will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in the MT 37 Bridge Preservation public meetings or need an alternative accessible format of this notice.

For those who require an accommodation, contact the Department of Transportation no later than April 20 to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that is needed.

Please contact Matt Maze, Office of Civil Rights, P.O. Box 201001, Helena, Montana 59620; telephone 406-444-5416; Montana Relay 711; facsimile 406-444-7243; or e-mail to mmaze@mt.gov.