County closes Boy Scout Bridge indefinitely

Missoula County announced Nov. 15 that the Boy Scout Road bridge will be closed indefinitely because of structural concerns.

The Montana Department of Transportation had already limited traffic on the bridge to three tons in August after a complaint by a nearby resident. After state-contracted engineers looked at the bridge in September, the state made the final decision that the bridge is not safe for traffic.

The announcement came more than two weeks after the original timeline for the project, the Pathfinder previously reported. To replace the bridge, Missoula County estimated it needs $5.7 million.

"Public works crews are placing signage indicating the closure at each end of the bridge, which spans the Clearwater River near several popular campgrounds," the release said. "Drivers trying to access that end of the lake must take an alternative route."

Shane Stack, the director of county public works, told the Seeley Lake Community Council on Nov. 13 that there are several bridges needing replacement in the eastern areas of the county -- totaling almost $20 million.

Stack added that the county had received roughly $2 million from the state for bridge replacements, but needs to raise the rest of the money through grants to replace the bridge.

The Boy Scout Bridge was first built in 1937. The Pathfinder previously reported that the bridge has been a known concern by MDT and Missoula County for the last several years.

"This bridge has been one of concern for a long time," MDT Bridge Management Engineer Amanda Jackson wrote in a 2017 letter to Missoula County. "It's a good candidate for replacement. All of the piles are deteriorating."

This story will be updated when more information becomes available