Maclay Bridge Alliance Mission Statement
1. To help the public become accurately informed about plans for Maclay Bridge
2. To encourage transparency in local government decision making regarding the Maclay Bridge
3. To project the impact of this project on all of the Target Range area from Reserve Street to Big Flat, O’Brien Creek, and Blue Mountain.
4. To become a source for accurate, reasonable, and logical information based on facts, knowledge, and experience.
Background
One afternoon in 2010 a local resident came upon Montana Department of Transportation and Missoula County Public Works employees under the Maclay Bridge examining it. Word spread that “something” was in the wind for Maclay Bridge that folks living in Big Flat, O’Brien Creek, Blue Mountain, and Target Range east of the river knew little or nothing about, even though it could greatly affect their lives and their taxes.
Some residents from all of these areas came together with the intention of finding out exactly what the proposal was for Maclay Bridge. What funding would be used initially? What funding would be used to maintain a new bridge, and bring street/roads up to the infrastructure requirements of such a project? Thus the Maclay Bridge Alliance was formed and registered with the State of Montana. Following intensive personal research, consultation with a recognized bridge engineer who has previously refurbished the bridge, and consultation with local hydrologists, and long-time community residents, MBA requested that the Board of County Commissioners conduct a pre-NEPA, feasibility study to look into options regarding the Bridge and to engage the neighborhood (in fact, the entire county) in the decision-making process.
MBA began by conducting intensive personal research into existing county bridge records and engineering standards. We consulted with a recognized bridge engineer and a hydrologist. As stated in our Mission Statement, our goal was to get facts before the public , including definitions of engineering terms that were commonly being used out of context. When a pre-NEPA feasibility study was undertaken, we followed each development and reported to the neighborhood and the county.
The resulting feasibility study is winding down. The fourth and final public meeting will be in January. The draft final report will be presented to the public for comment. The final results of this advisory, feasibility study are expected to be presented to the County Commissioners in early 2013.
Membership:
Membership is open to anyone who is concerned about the future of Maclay Bridge.
If you would join us to promote our Mission Statement goals, please send your contact information to Maclay Bridge Alliance, c/o Bob Schweitzer, 11905 Green Acres Road, Missoula, MT 59804. There are no membership dues, but we gladly accept donations to help cover our costs. Check out our website at MaclayBridge.org.
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