Nails close down Montana 40
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 8 months AGO
Cars drive along Montana 40 near the intersection with Whitefish Stage Road east of Whitefish. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | March 5, 2018 2:29 PM
The Montana Highway Patrol has closed Montana 40 between Whitefish and Columbia Falls after someone dropped boxes of nails at several different locations on the roadway.
The road was closed beginning at 1:45 p.m. because it was “deemed too hazardous for travelers,” according to an advisory from the Montana Department of Transportation. At about 3:30 p.m. the road still remained closed.
Boxes of nails were reportedly blocking both lanes of travel and had fallen in several different locations beginning at the Montana 40 and U.S. Highway 93 intersection and continuing west until Hiltop Drive in Columbia Falls.
MHP and the Flathead County Sheriff’s office were on scene with the nails coned off and the highway department was en route to assist with cleanup.
The suspect vehicle was unknown.
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