Zinke says bridge is his No. 1 priority

Rep. Ryan Zinke visited the Noxon Bridge on Tuesday, saying afterward that the project is his number one priority.

"The bridge is 100 years old and it has holes the size of trash can lids," Zinke told The Ledger, saying that he was surprised and concerned at the amount of deterioration that has occurred since his last visit in October. "The bridge isn't going to last six years."

Zinke visited the bridge with County Commissioner Dan Rowan and community members, saying that if the project is funded with the spending package passed by the House, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, "the money would be available as soon as February. No one knows where Noxon is in Washington, D.C., but this project is important. I've been focusing on these types of projects - rural bridges and sewer systems, primarily in counties that are challenged economically like Sanders."

One proposal was to build a temporary bridge while a new bridge is being built. The congressman said that walking the bridge this week, he thought it may be more cost effective and quicker to just move the bridge upstream. "It's about the same span, and building a temporary bridge seems like an undo time delay. Noxon just needs a bridge. That to me makes more sense and you can get a bridge quicker."

Rep. Zinke also said that in order to expedite the project, he is asking Governor Greg Gianforte "to assist and find a set of plans off the shelf. Let's take plans that are already approved and give Noxon a bridge." During Zinke's visit on Tuesday, he said a commercial truck went across the bridge. "It was not that heavy, and it shook so bad you almost got shaken off the bridge." He also noted that he was surprised at the amount of cars using the bridge at 11:30 in the morning.

"I am going to use every bit of my power to make sure it's funded that the level that's necessary to put a bridge in," Zinke added. "We're America. We built the Panama Canal. I think we can build a bridge."