The Montana Department of Transportation will host a public forum to present the latest plans to reconstruct U.S. Highway 287 near Toston from mile marker 85.9 to mile marker 89.3.
The open house will be on Thursday, September 7, at the Broadwater County High School Community Room (201 North Spruce Street) in Townsend.
It will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation at 6:00 p.m.
A press release from MDT says that the presentation will explain the basis for the design, including how stakeholder input was considered in conjunction with highway and bridge design standards to select the highway alignment and various design features such as local accessibility for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
The meeting is the last in a series of four public meetings leading to MDT’s design decisions. Procedures and expected schedules for final design and construction will also be presented.
Project team members will be available during the open house and after the presentation to discuss the project.
The purpose of the project is to upgrade the existing sub-standard horizontal and vertical alignments to meet current standards, and to provide a roadway that accommodates future traffic demands for the diverse nature of traffic on the corridor. Proposed work includes reconstructing the highway to include two travel lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, and widened shoulders. New bridges over the Missouri River and the Montana Rail Link railroad tracks will be constructed and the existing bridges removed. Upgraded pavement markings, signage and guardrail will also be included.
Construction is tentatively planned to begin in 2019 depending on completion of design and availability of funds. New right-of-way and relocation of utilities will be required. MDT staff will contact landowners prior to construction regarding property acquisition and temporary construction permits.
MDT attempts to provide accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person’s participation in any department service, program or activity. For reasonable accommodations to participate in this meeting, please contact Jan Nesset at (406) 556-4707 at least two days prior to the meeting.
For more information, please contact Butte District Administrator Jeff Ebert at (406) 494-9625 or Project Design Engineer Fred Bente at (406) 444-7634. Members of the public may submit written comments to the Montana Department of Transportation Butte office at P.O. Box 3068, Butte, MT 59702-3068, or click here. Please indicate comments are for project UPN 7668001 Toston Structures and submit comments by October 9.
