Columbia Falls councilwoman Kelly King raised concerns at the June 15 city council meeting about the reconstruction of Fourth Avenue West.

The section of road south of Highway 2 was recently reopened by the contractor to local traffic. The curbs and gutters and drainage are in, but the road is still gravel.

The new street design has bulbouts at the intersection of 11th Street and King wondered if the street was too narrow because of them. She said she saw two trucks nearly collide at the squeeze point. She also had concerns about busses being able to pass cars once the road is completed.

Fourth Avenue West is the main route to the high school.

But City Manager Eric Hanks noted there’s restrictions at 11th because of a manhole and once the pavement is in, the road will widen to the curb.

If people are going too fast or being unsafe on the gravel road, the contractor could simply close it back down, he noted.

Meanwhile the $11 million-plus project will continue through the summer and into fall. Crews tore up the road shortly after school ended in front of Glacier Gateway Elementary School and were working on water lines and other infrastructure last week near Highway 2.

It’s a two year project. Fourth Avenue West and Seventh Street West should be done this year, with 13th Street West being completed next year.