The estimated $38 million project to replace the failing Noxon Bridge remains less than halfway funded.  

Sanders County commissioners cheered in February when the state’s federal delegation secured $10 million in congressional funding to finance the project. With the addition of a $950,000 grant from the Montana Department of Transportation and a small contribution from the county, nearly $15 million is available to replace the bridge. 

But that still leaves about 60% of the project unfunded.  

Commissioners hoped to close the gap with a $25 million federal grant through the competitive Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development program. But Sanders County was not among the list of award recipients published by the U.S. Department of Transportation on July 7.  

County Commissioner Tony Cox expressed disappointment with the omission. Such a large request likely hurt the county’s chances of securing the grant, he said, but the need for a new bridge is critical. Noxon Bridge is the only adequate connection between the small community and Montana 200. 

“It would’ve been the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. 

Commissioners remain committed to finding funding for the project. They voted on June 24 to apply for another multi-million-dollar grant through the federal Bridge Investment Program. Their engineer told them increasing the county’s contribution for the grant, from $4 million to $4.5 million, could help secure it.  

“If that one doesn’t stick, I don’t know what the future holds,” Cox said, who pushed for the increased match at the meeting.  

Commissioner Dan Rowan hesitated to approve the increase. The county has about $6 million budgeted for reconstruction, and two other improvement projects need attention, he said.  

An artery that travels along Clark Fork River near Plains — River Road — is slowly eroding from rising water, he said, and a project to stabilize the riverbank could cost upward of $3 million. The county courthouse’s HVAC system is also failing and estimates to upgrade it range between $100,000 and $2 million.  

County Treasurer Alisa Garcia agreed with Rowan. Taking out a large chunk of the county’s savings is a big ask, Garcia said. 

“It takes it way, way too low,” she said.  

“We have to at least try,” Cox responded. “Somehow, at some point, we have to fix that bridge.”  

STATE OFFICIALS closed Noxon Bridge in July 2024 amid public safety concerns.  

The structure that spans the Clark Fork River serves a critical role for the unincorporated community’s infrastructure, logging operations, school bus transportation and postal services. It was later reopened following temporary repairs, with a 10 mph speed limit and weight restrictions. Engineers have since recommended a full replacement.  

The metal structure underneath Noxon Bridge is starting to rust as moisture seeps through cracks in the asphalt, Cox said. Engineers are working on sealing the cracks to buy the bridge more time, and survey and geotechnical work is planned for next week.  

The county is still waiting on the $10 million in congressional funding that was secured by Republicans Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Tim Sheehy earlier this year.  

Meanwhile, Zinke has asked Congress for another $5 million to replace Noxon Bridge, including it in a slate of infrastructure requests for Montana communities totaling $17.5 million. Funding for the bridge is in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.