Proposed Conrad Drive roundabout focus of open house

There will be an open house for a proposed roundabout project at the intersection of Woodland Avenue, Second Street East and Conrad Drive from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Kalispell City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.

The location of the event has been changed from the ImagineIf Library to City Hall to accommodate more people, according to Jacquelyn Smith with the Montana Department of Transportation.

The open house will be followed by a city council work session about the roundabout at 7 p.m.

Smith explained there will be no formal presentations at the open house, but representatives from the city and state Department of Transportation will meet with members of the public throughout the event to answer questions and gather public feedback about the project.

The city and state are endeavoring to improve safety at the intersection and reduce the high number of crashes that occur there. According to an announcement about the open house from the city, “an early feasibility study has identified a mini-roundabout as the most appropriate intersection control.”

The roundabout is intended to slow drivers and improve traffic flow at the tricky intersection. The plan also aims to better accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic there, improve accessibility and attempt to mitigate the steep slope of the eastern approach to the intersection. In order to fit the proposed project within the existing footprint of the intersection, the state is considering a “mini-roundabout,” which is smaller than those on the U.S. 93 alternate route.

“Due to site constraints at this location, it is anticipated that the roundabout will be a small diameter roundabout with a partially or fully mountable central island,” explained the Department of Transportation’s website for the project.

The project is early in its development, and project team members encourage the public to share feedback on the plan.

Smith previously estimated the feasibility portion of the project may not be completed until spring 2020.

“If a roundabout is found to be feasible, the project will proceed into the design phase, followed by construction,” according to the website.

The project qualifies as a Highway Safety Improvement Project. These projects are funded through a combination of state and federal funds.

At the work session, representatives from the state and city will present an overview of the project and summarize the need for improvements at the intersection. The presentation will also go over the current state of the project and the potential next steps, and there will be time to hear public comments.

No formal decision will be made at the work session.

The website for the project can be found at www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml

In addition to the open house, public comments on the roundabout can be made online at www.mdt.mt.gov/mdt/comment_form.shtml or by writing to the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula office, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039. The project identifier is UPN 9372000.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.