Montana Department of Transportation officials say that while large trucks will not be banned from using Highway 35, they will continue to work to improve safety along the roadway.
The DOT reported during a Thursday night community forum in Somers that Highway 35 actually had fewer truck crashes in 2008 than in the past seven years.
Transportation officials have completed several studies and say that they didn't find speeding a problem, or think that truck restrictions are necessary, but still outlined several safety improvements that have been made since last June.
Some of the measures instituted include: closing 10 passing zones, putting up larger speed limit signs, and installing a guardrail along the side of the highway.
A string of recent large truck crashes on Highway 35 have sparked concerns over the safety of the road. Back in April 2008, a tanker truck overturned, spilling more than 6,000 gallons of fuel into the ground and forcing evacuations. Then this past October, a chip truck rolled over and burst into flames after its fuel tanks caught fire.
DOT Director Jim Lynch says his department will continue to look at possible safety improvements, but it's going to take more than that.
“It's going to take a partnership for those that drive up and down that roadway to obey the speed limit and pay attention to what they are doing, and it's going to take a partnership from the industry” Lynch explained. “The trucks that are operating on that roadway (need) to do their part as well. And I've had a couple meetings with the industry and they are willing to do that."
ACTIONS TAKEN FOLLOWING NOVEMBER 2008 FOCUS MEETING
(information from MDT)
- Reviewed passing zones on MT 35 and closed 10 zones.
- Installed "Do Not Pass" signs at changed passing zones.
- Installed "Be Polite, Do Not Tailgate" and "Limited Passing Opportunity" signs.
- Installed a new vehicle pullout around mile 7 on MT 35
- Flattened slopes and cleared debris.
- Increased MCS enforcement on MT 35.
- Erected guardrail on the lake side of MT 35 between mile 4.8 and 6.1
- Completed speed study in the Finley Point area that did not demonstrate slower speed travels in this area.
- Installed 42% larger speed limit signs and proposed installation of additional speed limit signs along MT 35.
- Signs coming advising the use of US 93 as alternate.
- Additional pullouts explored.
INDUSTRY ACTIONS TAKEN AND PROPOSED
- Would support potential reduced speed through Finley Point area
- Industry would be willing to set up road watch community network for MT 35 and US 93.
- Monitor roadway for aggressive driving.
- Additional training for drivers specific to existing conditions on US 93 and MT 35.
- Install 1-800 highway watch number to report aggressive driving.
- Commit to scheduled roadway watch meetings with community members, MDT, MHP and local law enforcement.
(from November 12, 2009) Montana Department of Transportation officials say they are taking some steps to make the highway corridors into the Flathead Valley safer.
The DOT will host an open house on Thursday night to talk about safety issues relating to big trucks on Highway 93 and Highway 35.
The DOT conducted several studies on part of Highway 35 from Polson to Bigfork and DOT Director Jim Lynch will present updated information and findings about traffic and safety issues on the two highways.
He says people who want trucks off the roadway may not get what they want out of the meeting.
"But, we're hoping in general they'll understand that the Department of Transportation takes this corridor seriously, so does the industry, and between the highway department, the industry and hopefully the landowners that live alongside that roadway, once they see the information, and they've seen and driven through some of the improvements that we've made, understand that we're trying to make things better, not worse."
The meeting starts with an open house at 6:30 p.m. at the Best Western White Oak Grand Hotel south of Kalispell.
