DILLON, MT – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) held both in-person and virtual meetings on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday to discuss the upcoming construction plans for the MT-41 Stone Creek North project. The meetings took place at the University of Montana Western (UMW) and provided an opportunity for the public to learn about the project and ask questions.
The MT-41 project will begin where MT-41 crosses over Stone Creek and continue past Beaverhead Rock, ending just before Point of Rock Cemetery. The projected start date for the construction is set for 2027.
MDOT plans to implement several improvements, including:
Realigning the roadway north of the Beaverhead River.
Reducing the vertical grade (steepness) of hills.
Adding 8-foot shoulders to the roadway.
Installing shoulder rumble strips and replacing centerline rumble strips.
Flattening steep slopes along the road.
Replacing the Stone Creek Bridge with a concrete box culvert.
Replacing the Beaverhead River Bridge with a new structure.
Upgrading guardrails and drainage systems.
Constructing wildlife barrier fencing near the Beaverhead River bridge.
This project aims to enhance safety on a section of roadway originally paved in 1959 and last improved in 1988, with a chip seal applied in 2011. The roadway is considered narrow by today’s standards and experiences significant semi and heavy traffic.
Currently, the project is in its final design phase, and MDOT is beginning the right-of-way acquisition phase, which involves approximately 45 acres and impacts around 17 individuals. The department hopes to finalize engineering designs by 2025 and commence construction in 2027.
During the meetings, attendees had the opportunity to hear from engineers regarding plans to widen the road, traffic control during construction, and what to expect as the project progresses. Biologists also discussed plans to install a taller bridge to aid wildlife, mitigate work near sensitive wildlife areas, and manage construction around both the Beaverhead River and Stone Creek.
For those interested in staying informed about the project, MDOT encourages individuals to reach out to Brandon Coates at brandon@rbci.net.
If you would like to register for the final virtual meeting for today 01/22 you can here.
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