By Michael Howell
The public will get a chance tonight to view and comment upon preliminary plans for improvements at the main entrance to the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. The proposed Community Transportation Enhancement Project (CTEP) is located just inside the main fairgrounds entry at the corner of Fairgrounds Road and Old Corvallis Road. It will include ADA access ramps into a couple of commercial buildings and sidewalks that will connect those buildings to the new sidewalks along Fairgrounds Road. A rest area is planned at the main entrance which will include benches, restrooms, and bicycle parking.
“This project makes a nice connection from the Fairgrounds sidewalk on Fairgrounds Road and the bike paths coming into Hamilton,” said county CTEP Administrator Glenda Wiles. She said other amenities will include landscaping, horseshoe pits and a picnicking area.
“It should be a great spot for people to land as they walk and bike into and around Hamilton,” said Wiles.
The whole project cost is estimated at $178,000. CTEP funds will cover $154,112 of the cost and a local match from the Fairgrounds of $23,885 will make up the difference. According to Wiles, something new to CTEP projects is that it won’t go out to bid to private contractor entities. Instead, Trapper Creek Job Corps is going to do some of the work.
“We save money there and give the students an opportunity to put their training into place,” said Wiles.
The public meeting is scheduled this evening, Wednesday, February 18, at 6 p.m. at the First Interstate Center at the Fairgrounds. Wiles said the public comment would be considered in the development and completion of a final design. Construction would, hopefully, begin in the spring and be completed this summer.
For more information contact Glenda Wiles, CTEP Administrator, at 375-6500 or Deborah Rogala, Fairgrounds Manager, at 363-3411.