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Officials with Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) met with commissioners last week to update the county on projects within Sanders County.

Bob Vosen and John Schmidt with MDT presented commissioners with the results of a speed study on Highway 135. In April of 2022, MDT lowered the speed limit on Highway 135 near Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort. The speed limit is now 45 miles per hour instead of 70. A speed study after the project was included in the original project plan.

The study showed that the number of crashes was reduced in the area. Twenty-four crashes were recorded from January 2015 through December 2020, while five were recorded from January 2021 through December 2022. No crashes were reported after the speed limit change. However, the speed study also showed that the limit was set below drivers’ desires and MDT’s recommendation is that the speed limit be set to 55 miles per hour on Highway 135 from the intersection with Highway 200 3.5 miles east to near Camp Bighorn. County commissioners are reviewing the study and MDT’s recommendations.

Vosen and Schmidt also discussed the Thompson Falls Main Street project. Schmidt said MDT allows chip sealing to occur through mid-August. After quality issues were identified with the paving of Main Street, Razz Construction has been working to grind down the asphalt. Once the issues are resolved, chip sealing can occur. That process on Main Street will most likely occur in next year. Schmidt said when chip sealing takes place, both the driving lanes and parking areas will be completed.

Vosen went over projects throughout the entire county, including plans to replace the deck on the bridge over the railroad tracks just east of Noxon. Right now that project is slated for 2025, but Vosen, the Missoula District Administrator for MDT, said the timeline could change due to funding or as other higher priority projects are scheduled in the state. Also slated for 2025 is rehabilitation to the bridge over the Clark Fork River west of Thompson Falls. Vosen stated that at one time the plan was to replace the bridge, but further studies show the bridge structure is stable and MDT is changing directions to instead rehabilitate the bridge deck. That project may look similar to the Highway 382 bridge project currently underway near Perma, he noted.

In 2024, MDT is scheduled to work on Highways 135 and 200 in Paradise. The project to reconstruct Highway 200 between Plains and Thompson Falls near the area known as Bad Rock has been pushed to future funding cycles. “It’s an expensive, complex project,” Vosen said. He noted that finishing that portion of highway would finish the corridor updates between Plains and Thompson Falls.

Commissioner Tony Cox asked about the possibility of straightening the Perma curves. While Vosen said realignment is unlikely, MDT will work with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to find a solution, hopefully being able to widen shoulders along the road in the future to improve safety.

Schmidt and Vosen also answered questions from commissioners about the Noxon bridge. Vosen said there are no places for the one-lane bridge that leads to the town. He noted that every two years, MDT staff inspects every bridge on public roadways, whether it is county, city or state. Vosen suggested the commissioners could also research grant opportunities if the Noxon bridge was a priority for the county.