The final glitch in the funding for the proposed Woodside bicycle/pedestrian bridge across the Bitterroot River at the Woodside crossing was resolved last week when the Ravalli County Commissioners approved using $6,000 in contingency funds to match $38,000 in Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) funds. The total project cost is estimated at $900,000. The commissioners previously agreed to use $45,000 in available CTEP funds for the project, but state law requires that there be 13.82% local match when CTEP funds are applied to a project. As a result the CTEP contribution was reduced to $38,000 with a $6,000 local match. The remaining $855,000 is covered by state and federal transportation funds.
Corvallis Civic Club member Tonia Bloom, who worked hard on getting the project approved, noted that the project had risen to the top of the state’s priority list which was an indication of the need for the improvements for safety reasons.
Commissioner J.R. Iman said, “Putting up $6,000 for a $900,000 bridge is quite a lick.”
Maintenance of the bridge and bike path were also discussed and an amendment was added to the motion to set up an account at budget time for maintenance and snow plowing of the bike paths that depart from Highway 93 at Florence, Stevensville and Woodside.