Highway 35 reopens after mudslide

RONAN, Mont. – Both lanes of Montana 35 were open to traffic on Monday after a mudslide during heavy rainfall closed part of the highway over the weekend.

The mudslide had closed the highway along the east shore of Flathead Lake. Although the highway was open Monday, officials said road repair would require another closure.

Late Sunday, emergency crews helped 14 families trapped on the flooded side of a road east of Ronan, and three other families were cut off by high water elsewhere, officials said. Curtis Matt, information officer for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said the families were no longer in distress Monday, and either were in their homes or were staying with relatives or friends.

No injuries were reported.

“I think everything’s going to be OK until the weather bites again on Wednesday,” when another storm is forecast, Matt said Monday.