Could This Issue Hurt This Popular Montana Summer Town?

This is one potential problem that needs to be fixed immediately, not only for safety concerns but for the well-being of this town.

Summers are a booming business in Montana. National and state parks are packed with locals and tourists enjoying the beauty of Big Sky Country. Many towns throughout Montana depend on summer business to keep them afloat during the slow months.

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Several resort towns like Polson, West Yellowstone, and others need massive business during the warm months to sustain them. This includes restaurants, hotels, and experiences like boats, rafting tours, and other summer businesses.

Remember when the spring flooding took out the road to Gardiner? That incident hurt several local spots in the area for months because tourists couldn't reach the small town.

Another summer town might be in trouble this summer, and the problem has to be fixed quickly.

The Flathead Beacon reports officials in Bigfork are seeking a temporary fix for their main bridge. The main bridge that connects Bigfork's downtown to Highway 35 has been closed since January 31st due to structural problems.

The bridge is historic and serves as a point for folks to head into the crucial downtown area of Bigfork. The bridge was built in 1912 and is at the point where it's not safe for vehicles or pedestrians.

The bridge was noted as needing repair or replacement in 2017, and Flathead County plans on building a new bridge, but not until 2026.

The bridge is a main artery to several small businesses in Bigfork, and the closure could cause huge ramifications for summer tourism.

Representatives from the Montana Department of Transportation and the state government have examined the bridge to see if there is a temporary fix, but no plans have come up yet.

This is a problem for Bigfork. The town balloons to twice the population during the summer and hosts several high-profile events, from rodeos, boat events, and parades, and this bridge is critical to locals.

Reaching downtown Bigfork isn't easy if this bridge is out of commission for the next two years.

Hopefully, they can come up with a solid solution to this problem.

For more details, check out The Flathead Beacon.