7 Difficult Miles Of Lolo Pass Highway To Be Finished – 1923
Lolo Pass Highway Let To Spokane Firm
Bids Exceed Estimate, But Agreement Is Reached
Recommendations for the award of the construction contract for the Montana section of the Lolo Pass forest road project to the E. A. Webster & Co., Spokane contractors, will be made bureau of public roads officials of the local office, Frank E. Andrews, senior engineer for the bureau, said last night. On the opening of bids for the project yesterday morning, the lowest offer, that of the Webster concern, for $91,995, was found to be several thousand dollars in excess of the bureau engineer’s estimate, and in excess of funds available for the construction of the project. After a consultation between the contracting parties in the office of Mr. Andrews, the Webster concern agreed to a modification of the bid submitted, and the bureau officials were able to recommend the award of the contract.
It will be necessary, Mr. Andrews said, to secure an appropriation for an increase in the allotment for the project from the forest highway construction fund for the state of Montana.
The Pioneer Construction company of Bozeman, of which Nelson Story, lieutenant governor, is the head, bid $97,755 for the project.
The Montana section is 7.06 miles and is the only remaining stretch of road in this state to be built, offering rather difficult engineering at times.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on August 1, 1923.