Connect With Your Community!
Connect With Your Community!
At the end of August, workers were able to complete piers and steel girders for the Missouri River Bridge as part of the Montana Department of Transportation Toston Structures Project. Road crews are now doing preparation work for paving near the end of September or early October.
Until roadwork resumes and paving starts, traffic is traveling on a finished gravel surface. Flaggers, signal lights, and signage with reduced speed instructions are in place to assist with traffic flow and to manage gravel trucks entering/exiting the site. Travelers should be prepared to stop for short periods of time and to travel at a reduced speed for approximately 3 miles, resulting in minimal (less than 15 minute) travel delays.
There are substantial areas of the river restricted from use/passage. A passable waterway channel is provided and is visibly marked for the duration of the project.
For weekly construction location and traffic information, please subscribe to texting updates for 'tostonstructures' to 555888 or contact Becky via email for email updates.. You may also contact the Public Information Officer directly at 406-698-3668.
The project camera continues to be active and can be accessed at:
http://www.montanadotwebcams.com/#cam18
PROJECT
Construction on the Toston Structures Project began in April of 2019. The project is in Broadwater County, south of Townsend on US 287 near Toston. Construction begins one mile north of the existing bridges and ends just past Radersburg Road (Secondary 285) on the south end. This route is important for residents, agriculture, freight, and recreation. It is also popular for tourists traveling between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
The Toston project improves safety and addresses current and future traffic needs. The existing roadway and bridges are over 70 years old and no longer meet transportation design, environment, or safety standards. In a recent 5-year study, this stretch of road has had higher crash frequency and more severe crashes than similar roads.
The project includes construction of 3.5 miles of new roadway, some of which will be moved over to connect to the new bridges over the Missouri River and BNSF railroad tracks. The two new bridges will be wider than the existing ones and will also include more room on the shoulder for walkers and bicyclists.
Construction also includes a new culvert at Six Mile Creek, a tunnel for pedestrians under the new bridge structure, a school bus turnout (off Radersburg Road), installation of wildlife fencing, and intersection improvements. After the new roadway and bridges are completed, the old roadway and bridges will be removed. Construction is expected to take two seasons (2019 and 2020) and to be completed in the spring of 2021.
