Much patience will be required

Slow road to Missoula Five major construction jobs scheduled along U.S. 93 corridor

Patience will be a key requirement for anyone driving to Missoula this summer, as five major construction jobs are scheduled along the U.S. 93 corridor.

The work is part of a multi-phase, multimillion-dollar upgrade of the 56-mile section between Evaro and Polson.

The first phase was largely completed last year, when the highway from Polson south to Minesinger Road was widened to four lanes, with an adjacent bike/pedestrian path.

A few other areas will be upgraded to four lanes as well. However, Dwane Kailey, district administrator for the Montana Department of Transportation, said most of the corridor will be improved to three lanes, with two travel lanes and an alternating passing lane.

The overall project also features more than 40 wildlife crossings.

Pat Basting, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Transportation, said having this many animal crossings on a reasonably short section of highway is highly unusual.

"I don't know of another highway in the country that has crossings to this extent," Basting said. "We also have more than 30 wildlife crossings built or planned for the 26-mile section between Lolo and Hamilton. For the length of highway we're looking at, this is pretty unique."

Most of the Evaro-Polson crossings will be underpasses.

However, one overpass is scheduled to be built a few miles north of Evaro Hill next year. It will create a vehicle tunnel that's about 150 to 200 feet long.

"It's in an undeveloped area just past Joe's Smoke Ring" convenience store, Kailey said. "There's a lot of forest cover there, which makes it a heavily used animal travel corridor."

Basting said the underpasses will come in a variety of designs, with a mix of dimensions and different shapes to the openings.

"They'll range, at a minimum, from a four-foot diameter corrugated pipe for small mammals to 9-by-13 culverts for deer to 14-by-22 culverts," he said. "There's one on Polson Hill that's different from anything else we've done. It goes under the southbound lane, has an opening, and then goes under the northbound lane. The opening is set down low enough that nothing can jump out."

A variety of stream restorations and wetland improvements will be done in conjunction with the wildlife crossings, Basting said. Fencing also will be used in some areas to funnel animals towards the crossings.

Sand tracking beds and camera mounts will be placed at some crossings to monitor their effectiveness. The Western Transportation Institute in Bozeman also will conduct long-term studies regarding which crossing designs and locations the animals prefer.

The five U.S. 93 projects that are scheduled this summer include, from south to north:

. North end of Arlee to White Coyote Road - Work started on this section last year; it includes construction of a new bridge over the Jocko River.

. White Coyote Road to south end of Ravalli - A $17.3 million contract for this 6.7-mile section was awarded to Riverside Construction of Missoula earlier this year. Work is already in progress, with occasional delays for trucks and equipment to enter or exit the roadway.

Construction crews also are working at night; if necessary, they will be able to close one lane of traffic from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday so they can complete the other lane quicker. Two-lane traffic must be maintained during the day.

. South of Ravalli to Medicine Tree - The contract for this 4.7-mile project should be awarded within the few weeks. It includes a new scenic overlook/rest area at the top of Ravalli Hill.

. Medicine Tree to Red Horn Road - The contract for this 5.4-mile section should also be awarded in the immediate future. It includes a new bridge over Mission Creek.

. Mud Creek - This $7 million job was awarded to Riverside Construction earlier this year. It features a new bridge over Mud Creek, just south of Pablo.

Other than the Mud Creek project, which will continue through 2007, the bulk of the work on all of these jobs is expected to be completed by this fall.

Kailey said three more phases remain before the Evaro-Polson project is completed. Two of those jobs, from Evaro north to McClure Road and from Spring Creek Road north through Pablo to Minesinger Road, should go to bid in September; the final section, from McClure Road to Arlee, is scheduled to go to bid next spring.

All in all, "patience is definitely going to be needed," he said. "We've done a number of things [such as the night construction] to encourage contractors to get in, get the work done and get out in a timely fashion. Hopefully it works."

On the Web:

www.us93info.com

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com