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Bonner bridge project will impact Blackfoot River recreation

Posted at 4:36 PM, Aug 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-06 18:36:49-04

MISSOULA – Reconstruction of the Bonner bridges continues and Missoula residents can vote on the bridges’ new logo at a MDT-hosted open house on Monday evening.

The open house started at 3 p.m. at Bonner Elementary but goes on until 7 p.m., so there is still time to make it down and cast your vote.

While at the school, you can also check out how the project impacts you and get answers to frequently-asked questions about the project.

Traffic on I-90 should only see a minimal impact in the area until the projects expected completion in November 2019.

Waterways might see some closures during the project and people who use the river for recreation might be most impacted during the bridges reconstruction.

“Our contractors figured out a way that they are going to have a series of spotters so as long as there is nobody coming down the river they are going to be able to put those beams in place we won’t have to do any short term closure for the beam settings," said MDT District Construction Engineer Bob Vosen. "We will be looking at some longer term closures later on in September while there are contractors putting the decking on the bridge. Again, it’s just a fear of things falling off the work platforms while they’re working up there and impacting a user underneath, so it’s completely based on safety. We want to do everything we can to keep the river users in this case safe.”

— If you are planning on using the Blackfoot River you can stay informed on closures in the area by texting BONNER to 41411.