Study Overview
An arterial link between Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 87/89 has been under consideration by Great Falls and Cascade County officials for many years. In 1994 a local working group was assembled to support development of the arterial. The working group put together a "Strategy Plan" which identified the steps to make the arterial a reality. The arterial was incorporated into the Great Falls Area Transportation Plan in 2000 as a result. In 2004 an Arterial Feasibility Study identified a South Arterial as a feasible route that would provide a variety of benefits to the transportation system. Under the 2005 Federal Transportation Bill, Great Falls and Cascade County received a $4.5 million earmark to conduct a location study and environmental analysis for the arterial.
An Alignment Study for the South Arterial is complete. The Alignment Study built on analysis from the Feasibility Study. It provides a detailed analysis of the opportunities and constraints in the study area and includes cost estimates of proposed alignments. The study identifies a recommended alignment from six alignment options. If a project is forwarded from this study the alignments will be reviewed under a future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to minimize impacts from the arterial.
