Project Design
The progressive design of The Peoples Way is the collective vision of Montana Department of Transportation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and Federal Highway Administration. This context sensitive solution balances the needs for the safety of visitors and residents, preservation of landscape and culture, and protection of wildlife. Each project segment takes these elements into account, and it is reflected in the resulting design configuration.
Completed Projects
Medicine Tree to Red Horn Road
- Construction of a primarily 2-lane roadway with alternating passing lanes for north and southbound traffic
- Construction of a bridge over Mission Creek
- Ten wildlife crossing structures
- Significant wetland and riparian work
Spring Creek Road to Minesinger Trail
- Construction of a divided 4-lane roadway
- Separated bicycle-pedestrian path for the entire length of roadway section
- Streetscape improvements to increase bicycle and pedestrian use within Pablo
- Significant wetland and riparian work in vicinity of Mud Creek
- Five wildlife crossing structures
South end of Ravalli to Medicine Tree
- Construction is primarily 2- lane roadway with alternating passing lanes for north and southbound traffic
- Construction of scenic overlook on Ravalli Hill near National Bison Range
- Improvements for bicycle and pedestrian use in Ravalli
- Four wildlife crossing structures
Mud Creek Structures
- Mud Creek Structures a two-phase project awarded in March 2006 includes construction of two bridges at Mud Creek. Constructed bridges will also act as wildlife crossings.
McClure Road to north end of Arlee
- Construction of a primarily 2-lane roadway with alternating passing lanes for north and southbound traffic
- Construction of a divided 4-lane roadway from McClure Road to Arlee and a couplet within Arlee
- Streetscape improvements to increase bicycle and pedestrian use within Arlee
Evaro To McClure Road
- Extension of about 1.4 miles of the four-lane undivided roadway
- Two-lane roadway with turn and alternating passing lanes for north and southbound traffic
- Relocation of approximately one mile of MRL Railroad line in Evaro
- Ten wildlife crossing structures including a new bridge over the MRL Railroad near Joe's Smoke Ring and one wildlife over-crossing
Minesinger Trail to MT 35
- Construction of a 4-lane roadway
- Construction of an overlook of Flathead Lake from the top of Polson Hill
- One wildlife crossing structure
- Two bike and pedestrian paths
- US 93/MT 35 junction east to Turtle Lake Road
- Top of Polson Hill to ½ mile north of Caffrey Road
- Installations of sidewalks along Haack Road and Anchor Way Frontage Road
- Installation of traffic signal at US 93/MT 35 junction
- Two southbound, left-turn lanes and one northbound, right-turn lane
- Turn bays at Wal-Mart intersection, frontage road, and Ford/Caffrey Intersection.
North End of Arlee to White Coyote Road
- Construction includes completion of the Jocko River Bridge, two-lane roadway and alternating passing lanes for north and southbound traffic
- This project includes three wildlife crossings and significant wetland and riparian work in the Jocko River vicinity
White Coyote Road to south end of Ravalli
- This is a 6.7-mile project construction is primarily 2-lane roadways with alternating north and southbound passing lanes
- Project includes 12 wildlife crossing structures
Future Projects
Red Horn Road to Spring Creek Road (Ninepipe/Ronan area)
The Montana Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, intend to improve US Highway 93 in the Ninepipe and Ronan area. The Draft SEIS describing the project was circulated for public comment August 9, 2006 through October 6, 2006. The proposed improvements will balance the need of bringing the road to current design standards with environmental concerns. Public comments gathered during the review process were taken into consideration in the final SEIS published in the fall of 2007. The FHWA issued a Record of Decision and the selected alternative will move forward into design and construction.
