![]() ![]() A wider sidewalk and potential bike/ped lanes will address this.Ģ. However, when there are other users, or pedestrians, it is very tight and dangerous. When I am with the kids, and even sometimes on my own, I bike on the sidewalk across the bridge because I find that the turns, surface and narrowness of the road make me feel safer on the sidewalk. In looking at the plans, I am so grateful for so many aspects of what you have included:ġ. I am thrilled that it is getting replaced and I do not like waste, but the deteriorating sidewalk has proven dangerous to both my kids and my vehicle. My family bikes, walks, and drives across that bridge in every season. We live in the Rattlesnake and use the bridge multiple times a day. As use increases, is there anything that can be done within this project to make that crossing safer? Drivers can really cruise off the bridge going east and may not be looking for kids crossing the street here. Also, the east side of the bridge is a major Lolo Street crossing place for bikes and peds (especially as a route to school). I hope the constructions plans will allow the bike/ped lanes to be fully integrated into the approaches on both sides of the bridge. The bridge is also a key part of the bike/ped system and I love the addition of bike/ped lanes on both sides. ![]() I expect more residential development in the years ahead, especially as we address the affordable housing crisis, and hope the new bridge will be able to accommodate larger numbers of residential use. ![]() Please consider the need for this bridge to provide egress for the Rattlesnake in case of wildfire. With only two bridges across the creek in the Rattlesnake it's important to have a bridge that will function well and last for a long time. The plan for a new bridge with two lanes and bike ped lanes on each side will serve the Rattlesnake well. If the County receives grant funding for the project, it will use that money to complete the plans, specifications and estimates and pay for construction and construction administration. The County, City, Metropolitan Planning Organization and DJ&A Engineering are submitting a grant application in July 2023. This project will provide a 30% design package that will include a basic set of plans and estimated costs that can be included in grant applications for potential funding sources. Staff held an open house on May 31 to hear thoughts and questions from the community on the project. Preliminary plans are available on this site, and we encourage you to share feedback on the proposed plans. Missoula County will continue to coordinate with the City of Missoula and the public to find a bridge design that meets the needs of the neighborhood while also maintaining its character. The non-motorized space is proposed to be 10’ wide on both sides accommodating both cyclists and pedestrians. The proposed bridge now has 11.1’ driving lanes that align better with the existing typical section. With a new bridge, the width also becomes more flexible allowing for options to accommodate non-motorized users. A decision was made to construct an entirely new bridge rather than simply trying to rehab the existing bridge. ![]() As the county’s engineering consultant investigated the bridge foundation conditions, it became apparent that replacement was a better option reducing potential long term maintenance issues as well as offering up the opportunity to better address the concerns that have been shared by those commenting on the proposed project. The project was originally scoped to rehabilitate the existing concrete bridge and provide sidewalks while maintaining the bridge’s current vehicle capacity. Missoula County is charged with maintaining all non-MDT bridges in the county including those owned by the City of Missoula. The Lolo Street Bridge is one of two major bridges crossing Rattlesnake Creek in the Rattlesnake residential area. Take a look at the preliminary plans, and let us know your thoughts on building a new Lolo Street Bridge over Rattlesnake Creek. ![]()
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