WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal government is pledging to pitch in another $12 million to help finish full completion of the Kalispell Bypass.
Although the entire Highway 93 Alternate Route along the west side of Kalispell has been in operation for a couple of years now, the original, southern section is still the same as when it first opened as an “interim bypass” in 2010.
That two-lane section has continued to carry traffic to where it intersects with Highway 93 south of Kalispell. But it doesn’t have the capacity and full exits and features of the four lane, northern section.
However, word came Thursday from Senator Jon Tester that Kalispell will receive a $12.7 million BUILD grant to help toward the highway’s completion. That will widen two miles of the highway and replace the narrow roundabout at Foys Lake.
Local leaders had traveled to Washington, D.C. last summer to urge the U.S. Transportation Department to approve the funding. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Unterreiner said the Chamber “couldn’t be happier” with the news.
Senator Steve Daines and Representative Greg Gianforte also worked on getting the BUILD grant approved.
