North Fork Road Guardrail Project: Continued Momentum and Renewed Federal Support
Safety improvements along the North Fork Road have remained a priority for Flathead County for years, and recent developments signal renewed momentum for this critical project.
The North Fork Road Guardrail Project was originally proposed to address aging and deteriorating guardrails along approximately 3.7 miles of North Fork Road, a heavily traveled corridor serving residents, recreationists, commercial traffic, and visitors accessing Glacier National Park. The narrow, winding road runs alongside steep embankments and the Wild-and-Scenic North Fork River, creating heightened safety risks when guardrails fail or are absent.
In April 2025, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners sent a formal letter expressing their strong support for Congressman Ryan Zinke’s ongoing work to secure federal funding for the North Fork Road Guardrail Project. The letter highlighted the road’s importance to public safety, emergency response, tourism, forestry operations, and federal land access, while underscoring the urgent need to replace aging guardrails to reduce accidents and safeguard both motorists and natural resources. (Commissioner’s 2025 Support letter: https://flatheadcounty.gov/department-directory/commissioners-office/public_information_office/article/11278 )
While federal funding delays slowed progress in early 2025, the project has not been abandoned. Flathead County moved forward with limited, county-funded guardrail replacements to address the most urgent safety needs, demonstrating a continued local commitment to the corridor while awaiting federal action
That federal action now appears closer. In the final FY26 appropriations package passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Zinke again included $1 million for the Flathead County North Fork Road Guardrails as part of more than $27 million secured for western Montana infrastructure projects. Zinke cited the guardrail project as a prime example of a community-driven, shovel-ready investment that directly improves safety for rural residents and visitors alike.
This renewed request builds on years of collaboration between Flathead County, local stakeholders, and Montana’s congressional delegation. County officials remain ready to advance the full scope of guardrail improvements as soon as federal funding is finalized.
The North Fork Road Guardrail Project continues to reflect what sustained advocacy, local commitment, and intergovernmental partnership can achieve, keeping safety at the forefront while protecting a vital transportation corridor in one of Flathead County’s most scenic and heavily used areas.