Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-10-12
To Open Bids for
Bridge and Road
on October 9th

In another part Of this issue ap-
pears the call for bids for the erection
of the new bridge across Belt creek
at this point, and for the grading of
the Arlington -Riceville road for a
distance of 1864 miles and the sur
facing of the road for about six miles,
also for the construction of the three
bridges on the road between Arming-
opened on Friday, October 81. AL
though very late in the. year for bridge
construction, and the probability that
the work will not be started this fall,
the fact that a definite move toward
the replacing of the present struc-
ture, which according to city officials
who have investigated it, has become
dangerous for heavy traffic, viii be
good news. Work on the road is ex-
pected to be carried on during the
winter, weather permitting, though
the specifications allow until Novem-
Der 10, 1923, for its completion.
The local bridge will be known as
Federal Aid Project No. 70 and the
plans call for the construction of 80
foot span steel bridge with concrete
abutments and a "a foot concrete
floor The project must be completed
by August /, 1923. The proposal calls
for the removal of the present struc-
ture, which it is understood the county
will remove to Riceville to replace the
present log bridge and construction of
a temporary bridge for the mainten-
ance of traffic across the creek during
the construction of the new bridge.
Project 73 consists of the grading of
the Belt -Riceville road starting at
the end of the present graveled road
and extending for 1864 miles toward
Riceville, the construction of small
bridges and culverts, and the gravel
surfacing of about six miles of this
road. Under a separate proposal of
this same project are three bridges,
two of 105 feet steel spans each Cross
ing Belt creek, and one of 81 foot
steel span crossing Otter creek. All
are to be built on concrete abutments.
Construction of both the local
bridge and the new road have been de-
layed through the inability of the
board of county commissioners to OBJ
tain right-of-way deeds. Within the
past couple of weeks all right-of-wayI
matters, except for the strip across the |
Jas. Cooper ranch, have been adjusted,
and condemnation suit is now pend !
ing in the district court to obtain pos
session of this acreage. E. t. Har-
low, district engineer of the state
highway commission, states that his I
department will prosecute the road
construction in the hope of having the
road completed by the time the tour
ist travel starts next year.
Monday Aldermen Remington and
Carlson as a committee of the Belt /
city council called on the board of +
county commissioners relative to put
ting the present bridge in shape to
carry the traffic until the new bridge
is completed. The board agreed to
send bridge man to Belt to look over
the structure and learn what repairs
are needed and to carry them out. 1t
is certain that the driveway will have
to be replanked, and possibly some
other repairs made. The board also
went over the specifications for the
new bridge with the aldermen, and
while foot walks are not called for in
the specifications, the local men were
assured that a six-foot walk would be
built on each side of the driveway of
the new bridge.