Repair work on N. Lincoln Gulch Rd delayed shortly after getting started

The Lewis and Clark County Bridge Crew began work last week to repair the washout on North Lincoln Gulch Road, but has hit a snag that will delay the project two to three weeks.

Doug Nisbet, the Lewis and Clark County Road and Bridge Operations superintendent, told the BVD Monday that the 85-foot long, 90-inch wide culvert delivered last week came with tapered ends. Plans for the repair called for a culvert with no taper. He said the repair project will proceed according to plan once the correct culvert ends arrive.

Lewis and Clark County Director of Public Works Eric Griffin told the BVD last week they had planned to begin installation of the new culvert Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Griffin said last week that crews had begun work on digging the inlet slope back and placing rip rap upstream of the culverts location. At the Nov. 20 meeting of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council, Griffin said the county received the required Army Corps of engineers permit Friday Nov. 16.

The North Lincoln Gulch Road has been closed west of the Lone Point Drive intersection since May 9, when floodwaters washed out a pair of 36-inch culverts that were supposed to carry the run off out of Lincoln Gulch and into the Glory Hole. The county installed the twin culverts in 2011 after high runoff that year washed out the road in the same spot. Despite the larger pipes, last year's historic runoff overwhelmed them and washed out the earth around them.

"All of the work depends on Mother Nature," Griffin said. "Staff is busting their humps to make it all work."

In other bridge-related news, Griffin also told the UBVCC that the grant submitted to the Treasure State Endowment Program to help fund replacement of Dalton Mountain Bridge was ranked number two out 11 applications.

"Being at number two, I feel comfortable. That's pretty good," he said.

He said unless the legislature does something unique with TSEP and infrastructure funding this year, the ranking almost guarantees funding.

"It's in the governor's budget, it's in House Bill no. 2. If it goes forward with hearings, we'll keep everybody in the loop on what they need to do," he said.

The cost of replacing the bridge is estimated to be about $1.2 million. If the funding is approved during the 2019 legislative session, funds should be released in July. The County would then develop the final design and contract bid package, with an eye toward beginning work in the 2020 construction season.