Hungry Horse News

Sandry Construction of Bigfork was the low bidder for continued roadwork on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Sandry's bid came in at $2.469 million for wall repairs, repair of a slump near the east side tunnel, work near Logan Pass, and more work near the west side tunnel.

The slump near the east side tunnel was added into the project. The road slumped there after heavy rains last fall.

The contract was awarded April 4 and owner Mark Sandry said his crews hope to begin rock work at the west side tunnel in May, when the highway is still closed to motorized traffic.

Fixing the slump at the east side tunnel is a little more involved, rip-rap (large stones) will be used to shore up the road's edge, and then the road surface itself will be built back up to standards.

How long the work will take depends largely on the weather and soil moisture, he noted.

Sandry is no stranger to the Sun Highway. It worked as a sub-contractor for Morgen and Oswood for the last phase of the construction, which included extensive repairs at the west side tunnel, Haystack Creek and the Triple Arches.

Anderson Masonry of Bigfork did much of the rockwork in that job as well, and they'll be a subcontractor for Sandry in this job, too, Mr. Sandry said.

Sandry concentrates on actual roadwork, Mr. Sandry noted.

The entire project will employ about 25 full-time people, he noted.

Phase V is part of the ongoing phases of work planned for the highway. This is a relatively small portion of what is planned. The larger, and more expensive contracts are due to be let next year.

Federal Highways and Sen. Max Baucus are still haggling over $50 million allocated for the highway. The administration maintains it was authorized to spend the money on the road, but the funds aren't actually allocated. Baucus disagrees.