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The project to repair and improve the Clark Fork River Bridge west of Trout Creek is complete and the bridge is now fully open to traffic, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) announced.

"We'd really like to thank the surrounding communities for their patience during construction," said MDT Missoula District Construction Engineer John Schmidt. "We're pleased to have the project completed on schedule and know that the bridge will serve the public for a long time."

MDT used a new project delivery method called Construction Manager General Contractor (CM/GC) that utilizes an expanded project team to manage complex projects. Kiewit, the general contractor, was selected early in the project development process to work with MDT and HDR, the engineering consultant, on the planned bridge improvements. The process allowed Kiewit to implement innovative construction techniques that reduced the overall time and costs of construction. "I am really appreciative of the hard work done by HDR, Kiewit and our own MDT staff," Schmidt said. "Crews worked days, nights, weekends and holidays to get the bridge back open for the community as quickly as possible. The CM/GC process allowed the team to work more efficiently and overcome challenges quickly."

The Trout Creek bridge project included:

• replacing the old bridge deck (driving surface) with precast concrete panels

• adding new bridge railing and new expansion joints

• cleaning and spot painting the steel superstructure beneath the bridge deck

• milling and overlaying the bridge approach (north & south)

• adding new approach railing at each end of the bridge (north & south).

The asphalt approaches to the bridge will be chip sealed in summer 2021 to extend the life of the driving surface. The work is expected to take a few days to complete.

For more project information visit http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/clarkforkbridge.

Next in Sanders County, MDT is beginning a project that will evaluate the Highway 200 bridge two miles south of Noxon over the Montana Rail Link tracks. The bridge is safe to drive on, but it is important to identify needed repairs that will extend the life of the bridge, MDT stated.

The evaluation of the bridge includes assessing the current condition of the bridge deck, verifying past inspection reports, gathering input from local maintenance staff, and identifying potential issues. This work will allow MDT to determine the most cost-effective repairs to the bridge.

"Like many of the bridges in Montana this bridge continues to serve the community well despite being over 60 years old," said Terry Voeller, MDT Consultant Design Engineer. "This project will identify the needed repairs to extend the life of the bridge so we can get the best return on our investments."

MDT is in the early phase of the project. The public will have an opportunity to review and provide input on the recommended repairs. Input from public will help MDT finalize design plans for the bridge. Construction could begin as early as 2022.

The MDT Bridge Bureau is tasked with keeping Montana's bridges safe, resilient, economical, and reliable.

The Bridge Management section of the MDT Bridge Bureau inspects and maintains over 5,000 bridges throughout the state and guides maintenance for local agencies and jurisdictions. The Bridge Management section is responsible for conducting all inspections and evaluating needed repairs. Routine inspections are preformed every two years. In-depth inspections occur on specific and critical bridge components as needed to ensure that the most important components of the bridge are in good working condition.

For more information visit http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/mt200bridge.