PABLO — Construction and project duties of a pedestrian/bike access footbridge that will span the skyline above U.S. Highway 93 in Pablo have been transferred to the Confederated and Salish Kootenai Tribes, which this week held several meetings to discuss the details of the structure.

“Our goal is to make it something that look like it belongs here,” said Mike Brown, Safety of Dams Coordinator/Roads Program Manager for CSKT.

Brown led a meeting last Wednesday night that introduced the architects and landscape designer who will work with the community as they puts together a plan for the bridge. The bike/pedestrian trail currently running through Pablo is split by the highway near mile marker 51.

CSKT took over the project this summer, Brown said, after an agreement was signed with the Montana Department of Transportation.

The Tribes will receive $3.2 million of  Community Transportation Enhancement Project stimulus funds for the bridge. The money comes with a strict timeline, Brown said. The bridge must be built, inspected for MDT standards and functioning by Dec. 31, 2010.

Once complete, the bridge will be examined and will be turned over to MDT.

All contracts must be awarded by Jan. 15, 2010, Brown said.

Earlier this winter, public meetings on the project yielded several suggestions from residents who wanted the bridge to represent the area’s culture and people. At the time, MDT was in charge of the project.

Pablo resident Gary Noland proposed the “beautification” idea in February, saying the bridge should be made to be “something that is of interest to the whole community.

“We’re going to be driving under it forever,” Noland said.

In February, Noland showed pictures of a walking bridge in Vancouver, Wash., that is accented with native plants, cultural designs and historical kiosks to make it a focal point of the area. Noland suggested the timeline for construction is not as important as putting “some culture and community” into the project.

Noland was at last week’s meeting as well, suggesting again the bridge be beautiful, and that it be moved south of its proposed place at the existing marked crosswalk. More gradual walkway elevations leading to the structure will reduce the size of the ramps, thus reducing structure pollution in Pablo, he thought.

MMW Architects representative Kent Means displayed three rough sketches of potential versions of the structures for residents to view.

Hammering out exact structure size, design and other specifics will be set after further community input.

“We’re very early in the stages and we’re here to get your input,” Means said.

What planners do want to focus on, besides the aesthetics, are paths that clearly to and from both Salish Kootenai College to the east and the Tribal complex on the West.

Cost “restrictions” will most likely mean the main structure will be made out of steel and premanufactured at a remote site. Things like the placement of lights and whether or not to include a roof.

One aspect of the project is sure: “We want to make it look tribal, if you will,” Brown said in the CSKT press release. “We’ve retained the architect to blend into the SKC CSKT complex so it’s something everyone will like to see.”