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County commissioners weigh future of Axtell Bridge

Posted at 1:10 PM, Jul 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-21 15:11:32-04

A bridge just south of Four Corners has been a popular fishing spot — and more — for more than 100 years.

But with that age comes wear and tear.

“Axtell is actually where I learned how to fish,” said Courtney Tintzman, a guide at Bozeman’s Fins & Feathers fly shop. “It’s definitely one of the great places around here to go fishing.”

Axtell bridge has seen its fair share of traffic.

Between anglers and outdoor lovers, the old bridge holds a special place in the community’s heart.

“We’re a growing county and these one-lane bridges are just not going to be enough to handle the traffic in years to come, and Axtell bridge is a good example,” Gallatin County Commissioner Joe Skinner said.

From its winding road to its single lane, Skinner says there are definite safety concerns.  And while the commissioner stresses that there’s no potential of the bridge collapsing, there’s certainly room for improvement.

There are currently three options on the table, ranging from keeping and fixing the existing one-lane bridge, to totally demolishing it and replacing it with a two-lane bridge.

Costs are expected to be between $1-2.15 million dollars.

Option one, the most expensive option, would mean the construction of a new two-lane bridge as well as road work to help account for increased traffic.

In this option, the old bridge could be moved to a new location.

Option two is to create a new two-lane bridge, but there would be no additional construction to the Axtell Anceny road which runs through it.

The final and cheapest option would be to fix the old bridge, keeping it a one-way while preserving its history.

Both Skinner and fisherman, including Courtney Tintzman agree, the first option is ideal.

“I think it would make for a huge difference because it would make more room for people to enjoy that access,” said Tintzman.

The commission will begin discussing options with the public in September, but construction won’t start for about 4 years.

The money to repair the bridge will come from the Montana Department of Transportation.

Story by Gaby Krevat, MTN News