COLUMBIA FALLS — A Northwest Montana community is struggling to manage over $2 million in road work.
Columbia Falls Public Works manager Tyler Bradshaw says that $2.2 million will barely cover the cost of all the city's road construction needs.
The biggest project is fixing 12th Street West which will cost around $1.6 million. The street has potholes and cracks and Bradshaw noted the city will have to put in palce some additional infrastructure such as a water line below the surface.
Bradshaw tells MTN News that this road was built before the county saw a drastic increase of traffic, and that's the reason why the pavement isn't lasting as long.
"The traffic that does go on them creates more wear on what you'd see on today's roads, they just don't last as long as they used to. That one had a particularly bad sub grade," said Bradshaw.
Bradshaw explains that even with taxes, the city continues to struggle funding these necessary projects. One option the city looks towards is adding a resort tax and Bradshaw says Columbia Falls is looking to have resort tax as a ballot option for vote this spring.
