The transportation needs of the Flathead Valley were the focus of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon held this week at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Kalispell.
“Transportation is one of the top priorities we are facing,” said Chamber President Joe Unterreiner. “We are a fairly remote location here in Kalispell and as we get further into the 21st century it’ll be important to expand transportation options.”
Unterreiner said improvements for road, rail and air would make traveling through and to the Flathead Valley safer and easier and it would help area businesses. Ed Toavs of the Montana Department of Transportation was invited to discuss those upgrades and outlined some recent projects, including improvements on U.S. Highway 93 just south of Whitefish.
“It was the poster child in Montana of what bad road conditions are and why they need to be maintained,” Toavs said.
Toavs also spoke about the expansion of the Highway 93 bypass on the west side of Kalispell, although he wouldn’t reveal when the halfway-completed alternate route would be finished. Last week bids were being taken for the Hutton Ranch Connector, a half-mile stretch of road that will run behind Home Depot and Target between Hutton Ranch Road and near the intersection of Highway 93 and West Reserve.
Toavs said the loop on the east side of Highway 93 will be necessary once the bypass on the west side is completed.
“There’s going to be so much traffic at that intersection that we need a release valve,” Toavs said, adding that construction would likely start in the spring.
Also on hand was Keith Hansen of Allegiant Air, which has been serving Kalispell with twice-weekly service to Las Vegas since 2008. Hansen said the infrequency of flights is how the airline can remain competitive with other carriers as well as how Allegiant focuses on leisure travelers.
Hansen said that could change if area businesses are willing to help the airline advertise in larger markets, including Las Vegas, a tempting offer for Jason Forrest, western region sales representative for Whitefish Mountain Resort.
“With this low cost carrier coming out of Vegas, it’s a potential new market for us,” Forrest said.
Currently Whitefish Mountain Resort works with Allegiant Air on weekend ski packages and Forrest said his company was open to expanding that relationship in hopes of increasing traffic to the Flathead Valley.
Hansen said if demand was there Allegiant would respond.
“If we find that there are no more seats and passengers want more, we’ll make more flights available,” he said.