Public supports signal or roundabout at Batavia Lane

The Montana Department of Transportation and members of the public seem to agree on two potential redesign options for the intersection of Batavia Lane and U.S. 2 West near Smith Valley School.

State representatives held a two-day open house with individual appointments to go over four possible reconstruction scenarios for the busy intersection on the highway, near the elementary school and Kelly Rae’s gas station.

Of the four proposals—a stop sign, a signal with painted medians, a signal with concrete medians and a roundabout—most of the state project members and public stakeholders appeared to agree that a signal with a raised median or a roundabout would be the best alternatives to the current configuration.

MDT has been looking at redesigning the dangerous crossroads for years, although there is no specific timeline or budget for the project yet. The intersection was the subject of a 2014 Federal Highway Administration Road Safety Audit and a 2016 MDT traffic study.

The presence of the elementary school, the pedestrian crossing, the busy convenience store and other nearby factors have created challenges at the location.

During an open house at Smith Valley School in March, attendees identified safe crossing, traffic flow, ease of turning and accommodating large trucks as some of their top priorities for an intersection improvement. MDT officials also have met with stakeholders in the area, including school officials, nearby landowners and trucking companies.

This month, the state unveiled four preliminary proposals, which officials say could change significantly by the time any of the improvements would actually be put into place.

The open house this week was MDT’s first in-person outreach event since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the Flathead Valley in the spring.

Almost 50 people came to the open house and met with the project team on a one-on-one basis Tuesday and Wednesday.

Scott Randall with Robert Peccia & Associates, the contractor for the project, said most of the recent conversations have identified the best options as a signal with concrete medians or a roundabout.

Randall reported people generally felt like the stop sign option would not improve traffic flow and painted medians would not be effective in preventing unsafe turns.

Input was generally more supportive of a signal with concrete medians or a roundabout, since both options would physically force cars to slow down and make safer turns. Even though there has been some vocal resistance to other roundabouts in the Flathead Valley, multiple people commented that this week’s open house changed their minds about the effectiveness of installing a roundabout at this particular intersection.

The next step in the process will be a virtual open house held sometime in early October. The date and time for that event haven’t been set yet.

MDT representatives stressed they are continuing to accept feedback and answer public questions as they continue to hone the details of the intersection improvement.

To get in touch with the project team, call the project hotline at 406-207-4484, email Kristine@bigskypublicrelations.comor visit www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/batavia

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