STEVENSVILLE They were designed to be islands of green to break up the four lanes of black that would cut through the Bitterroot Valley from Lolo to Hamilton.

The idea of adding trees and shrubs to beautify roadway islands came directly from members of the communities along U.S. Highway 93 who stepped forward 20 years ago to help plan the travel route.

We wanted to add safety and enjoyment and some beauty to that big black roadway that looked like an airport landing zone, remembered Jean Atthowe of Stevensville. The islands were designed to help mitigate the four-lane highway that was ramming its way through this beautiful valley.

Now county and state officials say that experiment has failed on all of the highways islands, save those in Victor.

They say that its too dangerous to have volunteers cross the busy highway for maintenance and theres no funding in government coffers to cover the cost. On top of that, many of the original plantings have succumbed to the deicer used on the highway each winter.

The islands have become a bit unsightly, said Ed Toavs, the Montana Department of Transportations Missoula district administrator. They are not in the best shape at this time. There are weeds as high as two or three feet on some of the islands.

So in June, a contractor will begin capping all the highway islands at Lolo, Florence, Stevensville, Woodside and Hamilton with colored concrete.

Before that happens, county workers are removing the remaining live trees and shrubs and replanting along the roadway.

MDT will pay about $430,000 out of its maintenance budget to complete the work.

Earlier this week, the Ravalli County commissioners heard from community members discouraged with the decision.

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Highway 93 islands to be paved over