Millions for state clears hurdle

Glacier projects, Fort Peck hatchery get green light from subcommittees

WASHINGTON — As the Senate continued to battle over a huge spending package Friday, Montana’s legislators were hopeful they could hold on to nearly $150 million earmarked for key projects statewide, from Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery.

By DAVID EGGERT
Tribune Washington Bureau

Four Senate Appropriations subcommittees approved millions to renovate Going-to-the-Sun Road, replace the Two Medicine River Bridge and build the fish hatchery. The projects are vital for tourism, which drives the region’s economy, officials said.

Going-to-the-Sun Road, which crosses the Continental Divide and the breathtaking scenery of Glacier National Park, is considered an engineering masterpiece. But the highway is deteriorating.

"It’s like a treasure," said David Galt, director of the Montana Department of Transportation. "It’s important to the park and the economy in northwest Montana."

The bridge near East Glacier Park, officials said, is the most expensive of the state’s bridge projects — costing about $15 million. Its funding was added since last summer, when an original spending bill was sent to the Senate floor but never OK’d.

"We’ve been able to add some more funding in there for Montana than originally anticipated," said Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Still, the total amount of federal dollars for transportation projects statewide would drop by nearly $2.4 million — from $30.4 million to $28.1 million.

"With Congress facing tight budget constraints, it wasn’t easy getting these funds included in the final bill," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

On Friday, 11 of the 13 bills needed to finance the government still were unfinished. Once the Senate passes the spending package, it will go to a joint House-Senate conference committee. Burns will be a member of that committee, which could help spare Montana from cuts.

"That bodes well for Montana projects," Burns spokesman J.P. Donovan said.

David Eggert is a reporter for Medill News Service

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