The American federal government announced last month that US $27.6 million had been allocated from President Barack Obama’s federal stimulus package for repairs of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road.
The famous east-west roadway bisecting Glacier National Park is a 52-mile (83.69 kilometer) highway crossing the Continental Divide.
The two-lane road was built in 1932, but is in need of repairs due to its age. Causing further disrepair, the road is also hard hit by avalanches each winter. It was made a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in the United States in 1985.
Good news for Glacier’s famous road came in late April, as the American economic stimulus package allowed 27 parks in 18 states a slice of the economic pie.
A press release from Montana’s Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester indicated that the US $27.6 Million would aid Phase 8, the stretch between Logan Pass and Big Bend, of the current restoration project.
Said Sen. Baucus of the road, “Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the jewels of the Treasure State,” and further indicated, “this is a long-term investment in Montana that will benefit our state for months to come.”
Communications Officer Amy Vanderbilt of Glacier indicated that in a parallel announcement, however, the funding had been channeled through the National Park Service.
Vanderbilt explained to the Boundary that previous to the funding announcements, Glacier National Park had been uncertain of future financial backing for the repairs.
Repairs on the high alpine sections of the road require a “major effort,” said Vanderbilt.
Wall repairs along the highway have been ongoing for several years, she indicated.
However, 2009 marks only the third consecutive year of road specific repairs for Going-to-the-Sun.
Completion dates for the construction work were originally scheduled for 2013, and were funding dependent. That is, the work might not have been completed on schedule if financing had been unavailable.
Financing had become such a concern in 2008, that the park had been forced to re-evaluate the project. Projected overall costs exceeded $300 Million dollars.
As a result of the exorbitant price tag, officials decided that work on the high alpine sections required the most pressing repairs, and that lower elevation work would be done as funding allowed.
As the road has just received a major influx of federal cash, repairs on the high alpine sections are able to proceed as planned.
A few time caveats have been added to the money. Under the stimulus package, the $27.6 million in funding must be spent on projects within strict time guidelines.
The time guidelines ensure that the money is used to fund construction efforts and employ workers during the current economic downturn; saving the money, or developing a fund, would not aid in the effort to pull America out of its current economic funk.
Vanderbilt explained that the money should be obligated by September 30, and that a 2.5-year contract for the work had been scheduled. Both roadwork and expenditure will start this year.
Should any funding be left-over after the Big-Bend to Logan Pass stretch is completed, that money would then be spent on the road stretching between Hay Stack and Big Bend.
Vanderbilt explained that Glacier National Park would continue to seek additional funding for the Hay Stack-Big Bend stretch, but would also use any remaining funding from the stimulus package to complete the roadwork.
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