WGM Group, Inc.

Ravalli County submitted an application to the Treasure State Endowment Program on May 2, 2012 to request bridge replacement grant funding for the bridge on Willoughby Lane over the Supply Ditch near Stevensville. With the funding package proposed, there will be no additional direct cost to Ravalli County landowners for this project.

The Willoughby Lane Bridge has many deficiencies that are hazards for the traveling public. These deficiencies include lack of structural integrity from use of inappropriate materials and spliced stringers for the superstructure, lack of approach rails, inadequate guardrails, load limit, narrow width, and poor site visibility. The County is proposing to replace the existing structure with a single-span bridge and increase the elevation of both the bridge and the adjacent roadway.

By replacing the existing bridge with a new 50-foot, single-span bridge, the existing load limit will be removed, the 50+-year-old substructure will be removed, the width will be increased to the appropriate roadway width of 28 feet and the structural deficiencies will no longer be a factor. Appropriate guardrails will be added for safety, approach rails will be installed where none currently exist, and site visibility will be greatly improved because of the increased elevation of both the bridge and the adjacent roadway.

The project is widely supported throughout the county. Many citizens attended the public meeting on March 13 and many others submitted comments via other means. All of this public support helps the County’s grant application, as TSEP considers the public an important component in each funding request.

Ravalli County’s grant application is now in the hands of those at the Montana Department of Commerce (DOC), who will review and score it based on many criteria. Recommendations from the DOC will be given to the legislature for approval. The County will be notified after the legislature makes its final decision during the 2013 session.

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Projects	Willoughby Lane Bridge
	Ravalli County Applied for Bridge Grant Ravalli County submitted an application to the Treasure State Endowment Program on May 2, 2012 to request bridge replacement grant funding for the bridge on Willoughby Lane over the Supply Ditch near Stevensville. With the funding package proposed, there will be no additional direct cost to Ravalli County landowners for this project. The Willoughby Lane Bridge has many deficiencies that are hazards for the traveling public. These deficiencies include lack of structural integrity from use of inappropriate materials and spliced stringers for the superstructure, lack of approach rails, inadequate guardrails, load limit, narrow width, and poor site visibility. The County is proposing to replace the existing structure with a single-span bridge and increase the elevation of both the bridge and the adjacent roadway. By replacing the existing bridge with a new 50-foot, single-span bridge, the existing load limit will be removed, the 50+-year-old substructure will be removed, the width will be increased to the appropriate roadway width of 28 feet and the structural deficiencies will no longer be a factor. Appropriate guardrails will be added for safety, approach rails will be installed where none currently exist, and site visibility will be greatly improved because of the increased elevation of both the bridge and the adjacent roadway. The project is widely supported throughout the county. Many citizens attended the public meeting on March 13 and many others submitted comments via other means. All of this public support helps the County’s grant application, as TSEP considers the public an important component in each funding request. Ravalli County’s grant application is now in the hands of those at the Montana Department of Commerce (DOC), who will review and score it based on many criteria. Recommendations from the DOC will be given to the legislature for approval. The County will be notified after the legislature makes its final decision during the 2013 session.
WGM Group, Inc. \| 1111 East Broadway \| Missoula, MT \| 59802 \|tel. 406.728.4611 \| fax. 406.728.2476