A big project to upgrade water lines and fix major streets in Columbia Falls could start as soon as March 9, Monte White of contractor Nelcon said earlier this week during an open house on the project.

That date is contingent on the weather cooperating, he cautioned.

The project, formally called the  Gateway to Glacier Safety and Mobility Project consists of reconstructing 1.3 miles of roadway, installing 1.7 miles of sidewalks, and adding 1 mile of multi-use pathways along Fourth Avenue West from the north end of the city to 13th Street West and Seventh Street West from Fourth Avenue West to Nucleus Avenue. Multiple intersections will be improved with turn lanes and bulb outs, as well as parking improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility in the downtown area. 

The first section to get underway runs from the Glacier Gateway school zone south to U.S. Highway 2.

When a section of street is under construction, it will be closed to non-local traffic, White noted. People will still be able to access their homes and driveways, as they can put in temporary access while work is underway. The project has no impact on Highway 2, as water utilities do not run under the roadway.

The project also includes installing a new water mains under the roadways to improve efficiency and reduce water loss.

It is funded by a $10.02 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was supported at the time by Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, back in 2022.

The city also contributed more than $1 million in funding toward the project.

Once the project is complete, the city will be a far more walkable community, as work to complete a new sidewalk from Fourth Avenue up Railroad Street to the viaduct is also expected to get underway this summer as well. A person or cyclist will be able to walk or ride from the north end of the city to the south end of the city all on multi-use paths or sidewalks.

The following is the construction schedule as it currently stands. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2027.

• Spring/Summer 2026 – 4th Avenue West, 13th St W to 5th St W

• Summer 2026 – 4th Avenue West, School Zone

• Fall 2026 – 7th Street West

• Spring 2027 – 13th Street West, 6th Ave W to 4th Ave W

• Summer 2027 – 13th Street West, 12th Ave W to 6th Ave W

Here are some other points to note:

Road closures and changes to traffic flow will be updated via email and on the city and project webpages.

City webpage: www.cityofcolumbiafalls.org/

Project webpage: www.columbiafallsgatewaytoglacier.com/

To subscribe for updates or for questions both before and during construction, contact Shawn Bates, Public Works Director for the City of Columbia Falls, by emailing [email protected] or calling 406-892-4391.

Construction is expected to occur during daytime weekday hours. Occasional night or weekend work may be required for specific activities or to maintain traffic flow. Advance notice will be provided when extended hours are anticipated. 

The project will have temporary lane closures and detours will be necessary at times. Access for residents, emergency services, schools, and businesses will be maintained. 

Temporary pedestrian and bicycle routes will be provided and clearly signed to maintain safe access through and around the construction area.

Permanent work will be contained to the public right-of-way. Temporary work will be limited to the public right-of-way and within the temporary construction easements. Any areas disturbed within the public right-of-way or temporary construction easements will be restored to equal or better condition following construction.

People will have no long-term interruptions to water service.

The new water main will be installed alongside the existing one, which will stay operational throughout construction. Once the new main is ready, water service to residents and businesses will be switched to it. 

During this transfer, service will temporarily shut off, lasting up to four hours.

The project does have some tree removal, though the city and planners took pains to minimize it. About 21 trees are slated for removal.

 As far as grass on the new boulevards, the city will pay for the expansion of an existing sprinkler system from the property to the boulevard.

The city’s desired policy was revised during the bid amendments, so this matter is outside of the construction contract. Based on discussions during the design, the city had already communicated with eight to 10 property owners that sprinklers would be restored to the boulevards. Irrigated boulevards are in the best interest of the city, so the city will work with the homeowners outside of this project contract to restore irrigation at the city’s costs.