Construction started Monday on the final stretch of the U.S. 93 Alternate Route project west of Kalispell.

The $33.8 million project will extend 4.5 miles between the existing bypass south of U.S. 2 to Old Reserve Drive. The job includes building five bridges. LHC, the lead contractor on the project, also will extend Four Mile Drive from the Kidsports Complex to Stillwater Road.

Monday was the first day of the project that is expected to be largely completed by late 2016.

“Construction is going really well. We’re basically getting areas staged for the project,” Project Superintendent Melvin Nahrgang said Monday.

Nahrgang said in the initial days of construction, crews are stripping topsoil to open up space for incoming equipment.

LHC brought in massive 54-cubic-yard scrapers to help propel the job.

“We really like it so far,” Nahrgang said. “It’s going to work great in this soft material, which is pure topsoil.”

LHC crews are beginning work at both ends of the bypass segment to prepare for bridge construction over Old Reserve Drive and U.S. 2.

There will be a public information meeting from 5-6 p.m. today at the Glacier High School Auditorium, hosted by LHC. For more information, call LHC at 758-6400 or go online to kalispellbypass.com.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.