Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on a proposal to develop a new fishing access site on the west side of the Flathead River to facilitate the replacement of Sportsman’s Bridge on Montana Highway 82 near Bigfork.

The Montana Department of Transportation is preparing to replace Sportsman’s Bridge on the Flathead River. FWP’s Sportsman’s Bridge Fishing Access Site is located on the east bank of the Flathead River immediately south of the existing bridge. The new bridge will require a wider right-of-way that would reduce river front by roughly 70 feet and eliminate the existing access to the FAS.

MDT and FWP have worked together to identify a new property suitable for a new FAS in the same vicinity. Both sides of the river were considered, and initial plans were to develop an FAS further south of the existing access site off Hanging Rock Road. In the process of developing these plans, a willing landowner emerged on the west side of the river across from the existing FAS off Oldenburg Road.

FWP has expressed initial interest in developing a new FAS on the west side of the river for multiple reasons:

• Increased access: Public access sites on Flathead Lake and the Flathead River are used heavily throughout the year and are consistently at or over capacity. FWP is interested in adding additional recreational access when and where it is appropriate. Depending on site development, the property on the west side of the river could provide suitable space for more parking and shoreline than on the east side.
• Safety: The intersection at Highway 82 and Oldenburg Road could provide a safer road access compared to the intersection of Highway 82 and Hanging Rock Road on the east side of the river. The road access on the east side of the river features a downhill grade on a narrow section of road. The flat section of road on the west side of the river at Oldenburg Road features a safer sight-distance for vehicles traveling the highway and turning at Oldenburg Road.
• Willing landowner: The property owner on the west side of the river is voluntarily working with MDT for the potential FAS relocation.

Under FWP’s proposal, the new FAS would include a new, concrete low-water double wide boat ramp; a parking area with 38 truck/trailer parking stalls, 10 standard vehicle parking stalls, and one Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking stall; and an ADA-accessible dual-stall latrine.

FWP published a draft environmental assessment outlining the proposed development project. The deadline to comment on the proposal is May 22.

To read more about the project or comment online, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Sportsman Bridge FAS EA, 490 N. Meridian Rd., Kalispell, MT 59901.

To learn more about MDT’s Sportsman’s Bridge replacement project, visit https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/flathead.