MURRAY - Lloyd Roath wants Thompson Pass opened.

So do at least 423 others. And there will be more, said Roath.

"They've always opened that pass before Easter Sunday," he said.

Roath started a petition calling on Shoshone County commissioners "to take immediate action to plow open Thompson Pass now or no later than May 1st."

He fears local business will suffer if the pass is not opened soon, possibly shortening the tourist season to 90 days or less.

"There's a lot of Montana people that come over and spend money here. That road puts a lot of money in the Silver Valley," Roath said.

Despite citizen inquiries and the approaching summer season, the timeline for opening the pass remains uncertain.

"We hope to get it open by June, but who knows," said Don Erickson, road supervisor for Shoshone County Public Works District 1.

Graders will be used to clear the road, and the rest will be left to melt off.

One of the reasons both Thompson and Moon Pass remain closed is out of budgetary concerns.

"It's been one of the longest, coldest winters in history, and we're 4 percent over budget - not from labor, but from de-icer, salt, and sand," said Public Works Director John Thomas. "When we do open the pass we want to make sure we don't incur additional costs of re-plowing."

Thomas estimates that in a normal season it takes about $1,000 a day to maintain Thompson Pass, and because the public works budget is controlled by county commissioners, the final decision will rest with them.

"We want to create a safe road condition up there," Thomas said. "The sad truth is if people want more services they'll have to figure out a way to pay for it upfront."

For Lloyd Roath, that's not good enough.

"They just keep giving us excuses for why they haven't opened it," he said. "Yeah there's a lot of grumbling. Our livelihoods and out safety depends on that road being open."