Major Street Reconstruction Project to Begin on Kalispell’s 3rd Street East

KALISPELL, MT — A major street reconstruction project will begin Monday on 3rd Street East, closing portions of the road for approximately two months as crews remove and rebuild the roadway.

Knife River – Mountain West Division, working with the City of Kalispell, will start the project June 2 near the intersection of 1st Avenue East, continuing between that point and the 3rd Avenue East intersection. The work includes complete removal, regrading and reconstruction of the street, plus installation of boulevards and replacement of sidewalks.

“This project will officially begin Monday, June 2nd, 2025,” according to a city bulletin. “Weather permitting on Monday, there will be a road closure and no traffic on 3rd St East.”

Traffic Impact and Detour Information

The initial road closure will affect 3rd Street East from 1st Avenue East to the 3rd Avenue East intersection, creating a no-access zone through the heart of downtown Kalispell. This closure will impact access to several key community locations, including the Flathead County Library and nearby churches along this corridor.

Both the 1st Avenue East and 3rd Avenue East intersections will remain open during the initial phase, allowing north-south traffic to continue on these cross streets. Motorists traveling east-west through downtown will need to use alternate routes such as 2nd Street East or 4th Street East.

Starting the week of June 16, the intersection of 3rd Street East and 3rd Avenue East will also close for an expected two weeks. Another closure of this intersection is planned during the paving process.

Pedestrians accessing the library and other downtown destinations should plan additional time and use sidewalks on parallel streets during construction. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes when traveling near the construction zone, and the city advises drivers to exercise caution around the work area.

Project Details

Construction crews will work Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., with equipment startup beginning no earlier than 8 a.m. Work will pause Friday, July 4, for Independence Day and resume Monday, July 7.

Preparatory work has already begun this week, with crews clearing vegetation and surface debris from the project site. All construction activities remain dependent on weather and other unforeseen factors.

The project represents a significant infrastructure investment for the growing Flathead Valley community, addressing aging roadway conditions on one of Kalispell’s key east-west corridors that serves as a vital link between downtown and residential areas.

For questions about the project, residents can call 406-755-5775.

“Please travel carefully around the work zone,” the bulletin stated.