Flathead County is spending more than $1.5 million to upgrade its aging fairgrounds.

A new roof for the 90-year-old grandstand tops a list of improvements underway this summer.

That project will cost $250,000 and also includes repainting the metal supports and understructure, installing new LED lighting with an emergency backup system and adding more seating for spectators needing ambulatory assistance.

Outback Construction of Missoula is the general contractor, with architectural design work completed by Architectural Design Group of Kalispell.

The south end of the fairgrounds is under construction to upgrade and relocate utility lines and improve stormwater drainage on the grounds; that work will cost another $324,505. LHC is doing the infrastructure work; Carver Engineering completed the engineering work.

 “Many of these lines are 60 to 70 years old, in addition to not being in the best location for improving the grounds,” Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell said. “We appreciate everybody’s patience and understanding during the construction phase.”

Both projects will be finished before the Northwest Montana Fair opens Aug. 12.

A number of other projects are planned for next summer, including a second round of infrastructure improvements that will include planting trees along Meridian Road and Idaho Avenue, a trail from the entrance on Meridian to the Expo Building area and new asphalt between the Expo Building and grandstand area.

The county earmarked $648,508 in its capital improvement budget for the fairgrounds improvements for the current fiscal year that ends June 30. For fiscal 2015 the county will set up a loan from the general fund of just over $900,000 to accelerate the improvement projects, county Finance Director Sandy Carlson said.

The fairgrounds typically gets about $282,000 annually for capital improvements; that annual allocation will be returned to the general fund to pay back the inter-fund loan over five years.

In a separate project, the Dandy Dudes and Dolls 4-H Club is upgrading the entrance of the rabbit and poultry barn. Last year the club spruced up the entrance to the floriculture building.