Glacier Park road project timetable set

KALISPELL – A multiyear rehabilitation project on the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road will likely be finished in early 2017, Glacier National Park officials say.

Park officials said this summer’s construction will focus on a 3.5-mile stretch between Avalanche Creek and Logan Pit on the west, and a 9-mile stretch between Siyeh Bend and Rising Sun on the east. Some work is also planned in the St. Mary area.

At a meeting Wednesday, landscape architect and project manager Jack Gordon said the final cost will be $150 million to $170 million. He said another $20 million to $40 million is needed to finish the project.

Most of that would be used to repave about a 16-mile section between the West Glacier entrance and Avalanche Creek.

“I remember thinking at one point that we couldn’t get it done,” he said. “We were questioning whether we were even going to get the alpine section with the pot of money we had. We feel pretty lucky.”