The Western Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA/WFLHD) recently awarded a short-term storm damage repair contract to Sandry Construction of Kalispell, Montana, to make necessary temporary repairs to six areas of storm damage on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road). This storm damage must either be sufficiently repaired or bypassed before public access can be allowed across the entire 50-mile roadway this summer.
Mild, warm weather thus far this spring has allowed for good progress on these damage repairs east of Logan Pass, where Sandry Construction is currently working at all six locations. The most extensive repair involves the construction of a 350-foot retaining wall. Another of the damage sites must be rebuilt where both lanes of the historic road were washed out for approximately 110 feet. Five of the sites require rock removal and excavation above slope from the road damage to create a bypass lane that can accommodate two-way vehicle traffic without requiring traffic delays.
The FHWA/WFLHD has authorized a value engineering change proposal in this short-term contract with Sandry Construction to allow the contractor to repair the two-lane washout with or without a temporary bridge being installed. Sandry Construction is currently evaluating whether they can repair the washout without the need for the bridge.
“If the washout can be repaired without the installation of a temporary bridge, we want to give the contractor the opportunity to do so,” said superintendent Mick Holm.
“We have a small window of time over the next few weeks where a repair of the washout may be feasible,” said John Kilpatrick, Glacier’s chief of facility management. “The rapid melt-out this spring has allowed repair work to proceed faster than expected. In the event a permanent repair option is not feasible, Sandry will be required to install the temporary bridge in time to allow public access across the road for the summer season.”
If the temporary bridge is installed, rebuilding of the washout will occur underneath the bridge span throughout the summer. Bridge components will remain on hand at Rising Sun to be installed as necessary.
The park has obtained $6.2 million in emergency funding through the FHWA Western Federal Lands Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program to pay for storm damage road repairs over a two-year period, with the majority of the work to be completed in 2007.
The Sun Point and Rising Sun boat launch parking lots are both being used to stage equipment and stockpile materials for the storm damage repairs. All oversized vehicles and towed units entering the park at St. Mary will be required to park or turn around at Rising Sun until further notice.
Beginning July 1st, the park will also proceed with the first major phase of long-term rehabilitation of the Sun Road. The FHWA/WFLHD will soon announce the selection of a contractor for an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantities (IDIQ) contract that will allow for ongoing work without delays from future contract negotiations. The 2007 rehabilitation will concentrate on the three-and-a-half-mile section of road between the West Tunnel and Haystack Creek.
Information on the status of the road is available on Glacier’s website at www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm . Park road conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If a phone does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free. Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear Glacier’s road report.
