Missoula BLM taking comments on $5 million road project

POTOMAC - The Bureau of Land Management’s Missoula Field Office is seeking the public’s input on a proposed $5-million Federal Lands Transportation Project to improve 5.7 miles of Johnsrud-McNamara Road.

The office has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the project. This can be found at https://www.eplanning.blm.gov and search for “Johnsrud.”

“With driver safety one of the BLM’s top priorities, there is currently a need to improve the condition of Johnsrud Road,” said Acting Missoula Field Manager Wendy Warren.

Approximately one-third of the Missoula BLM’s annual maintenance budget is spent on the road, she added.

The Proposed Action, in the Environmental Assessment, is to improve 5.7 miles of road along the Lower Blackfoot River corridor from Johnsrud Park to Whitaker Bridge. The approximately $5,085,000 project proposes to pave the road and access into the day-use areas and campground, widen two narrow spots, narrow wide spots down to 20 feet, replace concrete jersey barriers with guardrails, add gravel to some pullouts and remove or trim select vegetation for vehicle sight distance. The new speed limit will be 30 miles per hour.

Located along the popular Blackfoot River, Johnsrud Road spans 5.7 miles and provides access to four river day-use sites, the Whitaker Bridge boat launch and Thibodeau Campground. About 40,000 people access the Lower Blackfoot River Corridor annually for hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, hiking and river-related recreation.

To comment on the proposal, email BLM_MT_Missoula_FO@blm.gov or mail to 3255 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personally identifiable information in your comment, be aware that your entire comment may be made publicly available at any time. While you can request to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

For more information, call the Missoula Field Office at (406) 329-3914.

 

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