Evergreen community leaders, joined by Gov. Greg Gianforte, broke ground Thursday on the first phase of a long-awaited project bringing sidewalks to a stretch of busy U.S. 2.

“Like I said: Out with the cowpaths, in with the sidewalks,” Gianforte said to cheers before the assembled crowd. 

Children traveling to and from school in Evergreen often are forced to walk or bike along U.S. 2 — which routinely sees 20,000 vehicles a day — since the district doesn’t qualify for state bus funding owing to the small geographic area it encompasses. The lack of sidewalks, while also an inconvenience, poses a safety hazard, according to school officials. 

“I walked those Highway 2 cow trails,” said Tony Brockman, a Republican state legislator who represents Evergreen and worked to secure dollars for sidewalks in the unincorporated community during the last legislative session. “... I am truly blessed to be an Evergreen kid representing what I honestly believe is the best district in the state.”

Local groups, such as Evergreen Community Partners, have been working to address the lack of sidewalks along the highway since 2005, ultimately landing money for a stretch of sidewalks in 2021. 

“I can tell you I never took a class in superintendent school on how to get sidewalks in your unincorporated community but if such a course was offered, the Evergreen Community Partners would be master teachers,” said Laurie Barron, Evergreen School District superintendent.

Money for this year's sidewalk work was set aside through House Bill 5 during the 2023 legislative session, but the effort ultimately received the necessary dollars in federal funding doled out by the state Department of Transportation, totaling $999,655. 

The HB 5 allocation came after Brockman initially sought to secure money through standalone legislation. After it was tabled in the House, the sidewalk project was subsequently tied into the larger infrastructure bill. 

“Rep. Brockman has been a really strong partner in the Legislature and as a representative for Evergreen,” Gianforte told onlookers. 

“I learned in the session, internally, that his mafia name is ‘Tony Sidewalk,’” Gianforte added, prompting laughter from the group. 

Gianforte credited Brockman’s dedication as a major reason for the project’s success.

“It has not been easy,” said Darla Harmon, president of Evergreen Community Partners. “It took a lot to get to where we are today.” 

Harmon has been fighting to get these sidewalks for nearly two decades. 

On behalf of the Evergreen Community Partners, Harmon thanked Gianforte, Brockman, local business owners — whom she called “powerhouse business owners” — and the Evergreen community for seeing sidewalks come to fruition. 

At the end of the presentation, Gianforte, followed by Brockman, Harmon and Barron, walked over to the corner of U.S. 2 and West Evergreen Drive, a major intersection just feet away from Evergreen Junior High School. The roadside trails worn down by years of students making the trek to class were lined with little red flags marking the future path of the sidewalks.

Armed with gold shovels, community members broke into the dirt as a junior high class sang the Evergreen school anthem.

There were multiple business leaders in the audience, which included Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, Mark Johnson, general manager of Flathead Electric Cooperative, members of Evergreen Fire and Rescue, State Farm agent TJ Wendt, first lady Susan Gianforte and several school officials and partners. 

Lukas Schubert, Brockman’s Republican challenger for House District 8, which encompasses Evergreen and North Kalispell, also was in attendance. 

Reporter Kate Heson can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.

    Evergreen School District Superintendent Laurie Barron, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Evergreen Community Partners President Darla Harmon and Rep. Tony Brockman hold shovels to break ground on the long-awaited Evergreen sidewalk project. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Rep. Tony Brockman, R-Evergreen, speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony for the creation of sidewalks in Evergreen along U.S. 2 on April 18, 2024. During the 2023 Legislative session, Brockman introduced legislation to create these sidewalks. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of sidewalks along U.S. 2 in Evergreen on April 18, 2024. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)