Local construction companies are crying foul over Flathead County’s decision to waive load restrictions on a short segment of Stillwater Road that will be used for 10 days of hauling for the U.S. 93 bypass project.

Starting Monday, transport trucks will haul 500 daily loads of pit-run gravel — up to 50 tons per truckload — between LHC on Stillwater Road and the bypass construction site.

Even though the county owns about 300 feet of the half mile of Stillwater Road that will be impacted by the hauling blitz, the rest of the half-mile section is owned and maintained by the city of Kalispell.

Kalispell has not imposed temporary spring load limits on city streets, while Flathead County’s reduced load limits took effect Wednesday.

County Commission Chairwoman Pam Holmquist said the commissioners were advised by the county’s legal counsel that the county is not required to post the 300-foot stretch because the city maintains the road and has contiguous jurisdiction.

Knife River Vice President Alrick Hale sent a letter to the commissioners opposing the county’s decision not to post the 300-foot stretch.

“Why would Flathead County choose to favor one project over another in our county?” Hale asked, pointing out that while the bypass is a “substantial project, other businesses also have substantial projects underway that are being affected by the load limit restrictions.”

Schellinger Construction also voiced its surprise that the county would “come to this decision which so obviously places the needs of a single contractor above the needs and rights of the rest of the county.

“This apparent act of favoritism is inexcusable and unacceptable,” Robert Warren of Schellinger stated.

He noted a situation last year when Schellinger needed to move four large loads a distance of less than a half mile on a county road when load limits were in effect.

Schellinger was told “no exceptions, period,” and had to pay the overweight fees of $2,000 — $500 per load — to move the four loads.

“Now LHC is going to be allowed to haul hundreds of overweight loads over a period of 10 days without any fees or restrictions?” Warren questioned.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the city of Kalispell had not imposed weight limits. Montana Department of Transportation Kalispell Construction Manager Jim Mitchell said the bypass hauling is still scheduled to begin Monday.