No more ‘bridge to nowhere’ on Flathead Lake

Bret Serbin

The “bridge to nowhere” on Flathead Lake is coming down.

Deconstruction started last week on a structure that has caused controversy in the Flathead Valley since 2014.

Nine years ago, Northshore property owner Roger Sortino made a plan to build a private bridge from his daughter’s property to nearby Dockstader Island.

“On its face, it was just illegal,” said Dave Hadden with the Community Association for North Shore Conservation. Montana’s Lakeshore Protection Act and Flathead County’s own protections prohibit such a construction project.

Nonetheless, Flathead County approved Sortino’s permit, which launched a legal battle involving the county, the permit holder and Hadden’s resident group.

The bridge, which caused controversy in the Flathead Valley since its construction in 2014, was built by Northshore property owner Roger Sortino to connect his daughter’s property to Dockstader Island. The demolition of the bridge is set to be completed by April 24.

The CANSC sued the county in 2016 for wrongfully issuing Sortino’s permit, and District Judge Robert Allison sided with the group. The controversy then went to the Montana Supreme Court, which again ruled in favor of the citizens’ group and ordered Sortino to demolish the bridge.

People are also

View Source