On Monday, federal, state, and local officials, along with representatives of Watco Cos.’ Mission Mountain Railroad and BNSF Railway, celebrated the completion of the 44-acre, $12.2-million Glacier Rail Park. The event featured the ceremonial driving of 10 golden spikes and the display of the original silver spike that was driven in January 1892 when the Great Northern Railway first arrived in Kalispell.
For more than a decade, city and business leaders have wanted to redevelop the land along the former Great Northern Railway Kalispell Branch through downtown, which today is operated by the Mission Mountain. The tracks are still owned by BNSF. In 2015, the city received a $10 million grant from the federal government to begin construction of a new rail park that will eventually be home to two rail-served businesses currently located near downtown Kalispell: a grain elevator and a drywall warehouse. Once those two businesses are moved — possibly as early as the summer of 2019 — two miles of former GN rail line will be ripped up and replaced with a walking trail, parklands and other commercial and residential developments.
Officials with Watco say the project is a win-win for the railroad and the community that will also increase safety. Not only will the Mission Mountain’s Kalispell customers be located in one centralized spot, it will also eliminate six road crossings through a busy downtown. The new rail park also features a team track, meaning more businesses will have access to rail service and there is at least 7 acres of land that is ready for industrial development.
“This project will transform Kalispell,” says U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, who was instrumental in helping secure the government grant.
While construction of the rail park was wrapped up, including the construction of a new rail yard, roads, water, and sewer services, work continues on building the new grain elevator and drywall warehouse.
Those businesses were doing fine where they were. They moved for the benefit of the town to eliminate the rail cutting thru town.
Andy, a benefit to the community at whose expense? The two winning groups would be the railroad and businesses that move to the park. I stand by my commitment that if this project is financially feasible private financing would be easy to achieve and taxpayer handouts would not be necessary.
When talk about Libby Dam in the 1950’s began, Kalispell was hoping that the Great Northern would route the main line through Kalispell again. My how times have changed.
Mike Lustig
Dennis…if you’re agreeing it’s a win-win, aren’t you admitting that there was also a benefit to the community?
Britt…I’m no expert, but I thought concrete was typically only used where really heavy loads were expected. Though I’ll admit that my basis for that is seeing the UP transcon through Illinois and Iowa using concrete for eastbound only (i.e.: loaded coal). I suppose that’s not a fair example since that wasn’t the original construction like Kalispell is.
It might be a win-win but not to the taxpayers who shelled out 10 million for the benefit of private business.
Looking at the aerial it appears that a mall was built right on top of the old yard downtown, with the tracks taking a rather circuitous route around the mall. I am not a fan of ripping up tracks, but i would have to agree that this is a win-win situation. There doesn’t seem to be much room for growth on the west side of town and besides six crossing there looks like a bridge or two that could be eliminated.
Still using spikes and wood? I thought clips and concrete are the current standard