Work to replace the 70-year-old Sportsman’s Bridge in Bigfork will begin early next month, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.

Montana-based Sletten Construction is contractor for the two-year project to build the new span over the Flathead River on Montana 82.

The state in 2021 determined the current Sportsman’s Bridge is too narrow to handle larger vehicles and increased traffic caused by population and tourism growth in the Flathead Valley 

The new bridge will have two 12-foot travel lanes and two 10-foot shoulders. It will be built adjacent to the south side of the existing structure. 

The current bridge will stay open during construction, with minimal traffic impacts expected.

The project will also add a left-turn lane and right-turn slip lane at the intersection of Montana 82 with Oldenburg Road to offer access to the new Fishing Access Site on the west side of the river. New left- and right-turn lanes at the intersection of Montana 82 with Hanging Rock Drive will also be constructed.

Last year, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks decided to relocate the fishing access site to an 18.22-acre plot of land on the western side of Flathead River rather than modifying the existing site.

The new access site has 11 standard vehicle parking stalls and 39 truck/trailer parking stalls, along with a vault latrine. It also includes a boat ramp capable of accommodating two boats at a time.  

An open house to share details about the upcoming project will be held Aug. 5 at the Community Room at Bigfork High School, 600 Commerce Street, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. No formal presentation will be made, but information about the project will be displayed and the project team will be available to answer questions.

“After years of planning and collaboration, we’re proud to start work on this important project,” said Bob Vosen, the state transportation department's Missoula District Administrator. “Sportsman’s Bridge is an important link for residents, recreationists and travelers in Flathead County, and this new structure will serve the community for decades to come.”

Sletten Construction crews will be on site Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

“We’re honored to work alongside MDT and our partners to build a safer and more accessible structure for the community,” said Russell Robertson, bridge division manager at Sletten Construction. “Our team is committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way, and we encourage residents to stay connected and reach out with any questions during construction.”

Regular updates will be provided throughout the project’s construction phase. Updates will be available on the project’s webpage and distributed via email and text message. To subscribe to email updates, contact Sloane at [email protected]. To sign up for text message updates*, text SPORTSMANS to 41411. For more information visit mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/flathead/.