Safety top priority for Seeley Lake parade

SEELEY LAKE – "There is a lot going on during the parade and I've eye-witnessed several close calls," said Steve Felix, Missoula area maintenance chief with the Montana Department of Transportation. "MDT fully supports the parade, we know it is a tradition and we aren't out to end the event. But we have to make sure it is done with safety in mind."

MDT and the Seeley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce are asking for everyone's help to make this year's parade safer for everyone. Parade participants are asked to keep their tires from spinning, hand candy out at the white line and spray water above the crowd. Bystanders need to stay behind the white line to stay clear of the moving vehicles and equipment.

MDT issues a Special Events Street Closure Permit annually to allow the parade on Highway 83. While it is not a hard permit to get, MDT asks that people comply with the conditions.

"If we continue to see things that are unsafe, I would be reluctant to sign off on the permit in the future," said Felix. "I would hate to see someone hurt or killed."

Burning rubber is the most concerning for MDT. It is also illegal on state highways. Felix hopes that law enforcement will get involved if it happens.

"If someone loses control of a vehicle and that car ends up in the crowd, there is likely to be bystanders serious injured or even killed," said Felix. "That is very concerning for us."

Throwing candy is an issue because not all of it gets to the edge of the road. Then children run out in the road in front of moving equipment, machinery, cars and other vehicles. MDT asks that the candy be handed out along the parade route and not thrown from vehicles and floats.

"We are not against candy. It just needs to be done safety so no one gets injured or killed," said Felix who has witnessed some very close calls with children in the last few years.

The third issue is spraying water. When the children are out trying to get candy and they are sprayed with water, they have a tendency to run from the water.

"We would hate to see a child run under a tire, vehicle or piece of equipment that is in the parade and get hurt or killed," said Felix.

Felix said the community has always done a good job of managing the traffic flow and they have never received any complaints about the delay. MDT looks forward to continuing to work with Seeley Lake to issue the special use permit but the community and visitors need to comply with the conditions and make it safe for everyone.