Locals are celebrating the announcement that new guard rails will be installed next year on a section of East Mullan Road between Superior and Tarkio.

The existing guard rails are rotten, and locals have complained for over a decade that they do not feel safe. There isn’t a record of when the current guardrail system was installed, but the wood posts pounded into the ground are broken and lay with the cable connecting them to other broken posts.

In 2010, the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce gathered over 25 letters of complaints and support for new guardrails in this 15-mile stretch from businesses and residents alike. Contracted mail carries for the USPS were among them stressing their own safety. 

Nothing came from a meeting between the county commissioners and the Montana Department of Transportation.

“I started as section man in Superior in 2008 and started whining then and the bus drivers joined in,” remembers Denley Loge when he worked for the State of Montana Road Department. 

He was at that meeting and shared that there were certain stretches that he would unbuckle his seatbelt and open the driver’s door a little knowing that if his plow was to catch an edge, it would be straight down into the Clark Fork River from a bank, and his only chance of survival would be to jump. As an elected representative, he has kept the pressure up when the subject surfaces and last fall, he gave a tour to MDT Director, Chris Dorrington. 

“Topics I covered were the speed zones and unsafe passing zones on Montana 135, right of way vegetation management, gravel pits, tow plows and wings, East Mullan Road guardrails, green lights on plows and other maintenance issues. I had him in my vehicle riding for about 3 hours and we didn't even have time to get west of St. Regis,” he said. 

Late last month, Loge was notified by Dorrington that East Mullan Road is slated for new guard railing in 2027. Dorrington confirmed that $1 million in new guard rails would be installed in 2027 starting at Superior and going 11.6 miles east. The good news has been celebrated by numerous residents in the Superior area and several have shared their delight.

“I never thought I'd see new guard rails,” shared Randy Russ who lives up 2nd Creek with his wife Wendy and are the caretakers of his parents. “I tried to make it happened after my folks nearly fell to the river one night in a car crash years back, but mostly the replies were, ‘but no one died over it.’” 

He went on to say that in the mid-sixties when Wendy’s grandmother lived in Moscow, Idaho that she was familiar with this region. 

“She tossed a fit about traveling through this area due to the poor guard rails. Not sure if grandpa ever got over this way often because of that. If this story is true, my question is what year were these post and cables put in? If they were bad in the sixties, maybe these are the new ones since?” 

“Yeaaaaa!!!” exclaimed Billye Ann "Toots’" Bricker who was born and raised in Happy Hollow and running the family ranch 55 years. 

“Me and my two brothers (Chuck & Don Frey) rode the school bus for 12 years each.  So did Tina & David Bricker (her two children with Wayne Bricker). The rails have looked worthless for the last 20 years. I drove to work in the courthouse for 32 years. I was known for all the deer I encountered. When I was a early teen, our family was coming home from a show at the theatre in Superior one night. Cops and lights everywhere between Forest Grove and the Guard Station. A vehicle had gone off the road into the river. They were trying to get it out with a wrecker as there were people in it.  The only name I remember is a girl named Breeding from St. Regis. I've been told they owned the ranch Chuck Jensen bought. The school bus ride was so long, as we boarded in the morning at Tarkio, drove to Lozeau, crossed over and picked up kids on the Quartz side and on to Superior. In the Spring and Fall, the route was reversed on the way home, so we got off the bus and played baseball at several places at the cross over road by the tracks. This US 10 was a busy road as it was before the freeway came in around 1959.  The brothers made extra money putting chains on vehicles or pulling them out of snow drifts in the cut between us and Hollenback’s. We had many very good bus drivers. The good ole days, huh?” she smiled.

“Having driven this as a bus driver, but also as a river guide, things can get kind of Western if someone is drifting into your lane. With a lack of shoulder on the road, a guardrail will be a great way to help keep people safe, especially where the road gets close to the water,” shared Chris Clairmont who has lived here 10 years.

Rose Duncan has lived in Superior since 1958. 

“I can remember when Mullan Road was the only road between us and Missoula. It was dangerous then with new guard rails but it’s a disgrace now. I feared that it would take a serious fatality accident to get the guardrails replaced. 2027 is not nearly soon enough.”

“Those guard rails are long overdue, but at least you got some results,” wrote Barbara, Dan, and Ranger (their Flatcoated Retriever) Arnson who have lived up 2nd creek for over 20 years.

“My knowledge of the guardrail condition along East Mullan Road has developed over the past 3-plus years,” responded Ginny Tubbs who has been a Mineral County taxpayer since 1995. “I am a volunteer driver for the DAV and have been transporting veterans from Mineral County to appointments in Missoula. The guardrail condition along the river is beyond treacherous. East Mullan road is a two-lane highway with no passing area. There are several veterans living in the River Bend residential area which requires a pickup along East Mullan Road. Winter driving is the time of year which presents the most challenges along that section of highway.  Not having the security of guardrails in the event of traffic issues causes white knuckle driving. The future plan of replacing the guardrails is a very positive outlook and driving along East Mullan will be more secure.” 

Ted Hartman lives between mile markers 9 and 10. 

“In the 10 years we have owned property out here on East Mullan, we've watched the traffic increase substantially.  It is a wonder there hasn't been a serious catastrophic accident along several areas between Superior and Tarkio.  And with it being a school bus route, it should have been addressed a long time ago. I'm pleased to hear we're finally in the cue for some safety improvements. Hopefully they'll be able to address the deteriorating road surface conditions and failing bridge at the Bricker farm as well.” 

“Every time I drive that road I think of all the vehicles that have gone over the edge over the past few years. Thanks for hounding DOT!,” writes Anita Parkin. “I have helped rescued and taken care of several victims during my EMS and law enforcement years!  Glad to hear they are finally going to get it done! Hopefully not too late to prevent a death or serious injury.”