The Flathead County commissioners have approved a last-minute application for a federal grant that would enable the county to pave and improve backcountry roads between Coram and West Glacier.

The county will seek funding through the Federal Lands Access Program, known as FLAP, to improve three sections of Blankenship and Belton Stage roads totaling about 2.6 miles. The work would involve laying down asphalt millings, minor road reshaping, and drainage and signage improvements. The commissioners unanimously approved the grant application on May 11.

Dave Prunty, the county's public works director, said the project would greatly improve access for locals and visitors seeking outdoor recreation in the area.

"This road gets beat up by a lot of tourists, rafters, locals too," he said. "In the summertime, it gets used heavily to come out of the West Glacier region and get over to the North Fork area."

Prunty said all the engineering and construction work is projected to cost about $529,000, of which the county would cover about $71,000 — small amounts compared to previous FLAP projects.

The project has support from Flathead National Forest Superintendent Kurt Steele and Rob Davies, head of the Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District.

In a letter, Davies said Blankenship Road is one of only three forest access routes with bridges across the North Fork of the Flathead River. The road segments slated for improvement, he said, are "extremely important" for the "rapidly increasing" number of visitors looking to float, raft and fish on the river, as well as those looking to hike, bike and camp in the forest and neighboring Glacier National Park.

"Resurfacing these road segments would provide a better user experience and less dust for the recreational users of the Flathead National Forest," Davies wrote. "Eliminating the gravel sections will reduce dust and improve both air quality of the area and safety during the summer months."

There's no fixed timeline for when the work would occur.

"We're hopeful that this job could go next year," Prunty said. "With FLAP involved, it's hard to say that could occur. It could be a year or two later. But we put in the application, and we would like to see this completed by 2024."

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com