Montana 206 scheduled for upgrade

The Montana Department of Transportation is taking public comment on a proposal to improve roadside safety along 9.4 miles of Montana 206 southeast of Columbia Falls.

The project begins just north of the Montana 35 junction, and extends north to about 0.2 miles south of the U.S. 2 junction.

Proposed work includes shoulder widening, roadside slope flattening, backslope excavation, a new pavement overlay and chip-sealing.

Upgraded pavement markings, signs and guardrail also are proposed. The purpose of the project is to enhance roadside safety along the highway, on which has an identified trend of   crashes involving vehicles going off the road.

Construction is tentatively scheduled for summer 2017, depending on completion of all project development activities and availability of funding.

New right-of-way and utility relocations will be needed. State highway department staffers contacted all potentially affected landowners prior to performing survey work on their land. State officials will again contact landowners prior to construction regarding property acquisition and temporary construction permits.

For more information, contact Missoula District Administrator Ed Toavs at 406-523-5802 or Project Design Engineer William Squires at 406-444-6228.

Written comments may be sent to the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula office at P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT  59807-7039, or online at www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml.