The Flathead National Forest’s Swan Lake Ranger District is accepting public comments on its proposal to finish paving the main road up Blacktail Mountain by 2018.

Forest Road No. 917, also known as the Blacktail Road, is the primary access to National Forest System lands in the Blacktail Mountain area from the community of Lakeside and U.S. 93.

It provides access to Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, private properties, motorized and nonmotorized trail systems, the Blacktail Mountain cross-country ski trail system and other recreational activities.

“At present, the Federal Highway Administration is doing their preliminary design work,” district ranger Rich Kehr said Thursday. “If we’re able to complete the [National Environmental Policy Act] part this year, the intention is to advertise the construction contract this winter, with the intent of starting work possibly by mid to late summer next year.”

He added that if approved, the road reconstruction likely won’t wrap up until sometime in 2018.

Under the forest’s preferred action, the project would stabilize and restore about 10 miles of dirt road, starting at about 3.5 miles, where Flathead County jurisdiction currently ends, and continuing to the top of Blacktail Mountain.

The project also would transfer just over two miles of the road to county jurisdiction, which would end about 5.5 miles up the road. That segment is currently under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Aside from the paving, construction work would include minor road alignments for safety and resource protection, slope stabilization above Stoner Creek, road drainage and culvert improvements and the use of the Blacktail gravel pit for construction material.

The environmental assessment, published last week, also includes an alternative to pave only a portion of the road, about 4.5 miles from where the pavement currently ends to mile marker 8.

After reviewing comments submitted during the public comment period, the forest will publish a draft decision on the paving project.

To view the environmental assessment and other documents for the Blacktail Road Project, contact Kehr or visit www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48669.

Comments on this proposed project will be accepted through Sept. 2.

Written, hand-delivered and oral comments can be delivered to Kehr at 200 Ranger Station Road, Bigfork, MT 59911. Comments can also be submitted by fax to 406-837-7503; or by calling Kehr at 406-837-7501.

Electronic comments should be sent to comments-northern-flathead-swan-lake@fs.fed.us, with “Blacktail Road Project” in the subject line.