Road work wraps up for season on U.S. 2 West roundabout

Construction of the Dern and Springcreek roundabout on U.S. 2 has wrapped up for the year, according to the Montana Department of Transportation.

The highway was reconfigured from a four-way intersection on a hill to a roundabout with a flattened slope. Both changes were designed to increase safety by enhancing visibility and slowing travel.

“We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we implemented a solution that will vastly reduce and eliminate serious injuries and deaths,” Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula District Administrator, said in a press release. “Our priority at MDT is getting everyone home safely each night. Roundabouts provide key safety benefits, reducing fatal crashes by 90%.”

In addition to building a roundabout large enough to accommodate semi-trucks and large vehicles, crews relocated the intersection approximately 120 feet northwest of its previous position, providing a flatter intersection.

MDT and Schellinger Construction crews began roadwork in May with the goal of delivering a safe route before winter. Although construction is largely finished, drivers can expect crews to return for a brief period in 2022 to chip seal and paint final roadway lines, the press release noted. Both activities require warm and dry conditions. State officials will inform the public and media when roadwork resumes.