Montana Department of Transportation

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Cedar construction project

Intersection of Washington and Custer

Cedar Construction

Aerial - Custer and Frontage Road

Cedar construction

Aerial photo of Montana at Custer

Cedar construction

Cedar project

Cedar Construction

Custer Interchange - north

Aerial - Custer and Washington intersection


Spring 2012 Updates Custer Interchange – Construction is underway on the Custer Interchange project in Helena. Construction will include improvements from National Avenue to Montana Avenue, Washington to York and the Helena Valley Canal Bridge. The project will be divided into three phases and is expected to continue through September 2012. MDT has developed a strategy to leave Custer Avenue over the Helena Valley Canal Bridge near York Road open to through traffic while the canal bridge is being replaced. Construction will be phased across the canal and two-way traffic will be maintained at all times. Custer Project Status		Join us each Tuesday at 10 am at Holiday Inn Express, 3170 N Sanders, to address any issues or concerns. Hometown Helena - February 18, 2011 Custer Stakeholders - October 12, 2010 Custer Stakeholders - April 13, 2010

Start of construction - Summer 2011 Projected construction completion - January 2013 Move utilities - late 2010/early 2011 Improvements National Ave. to Montana Ave. - transition to 5 lanes Montana Ave. to Washington St. - 4 lanes/sidewalks/turn lanes Washington Ave. to Kelleher St. - transition down to 2 lanes Construct a 5 ramp interchange over I-15 Add auxiliary lanes along the outside of I-15 between Custer Ave. and Cedar St. Repave Washington St. from Custer Ave. to Cedar St. Upgrade the York Road Intersection to provide southbound motorists a slip-lane to westbound Custer Regional storm drainage system	Start of construction - May 2010 Project was completed by Helena Sand & Gravel in late July, 2010, nearly 20 days ahead of schedule. Improvements Montana Ave. to I-15 - 4 through lanes and a center turn lane I-15 Overpass Bridge - remove raised median, add travel lanes I-15 to Washington St. - provide additional westbound lane Southbound I-15 off-ramp at Cedar St. - add a lane Storm drainage system improvements	Start of construction - September 2010 Project completed - Summer 2011 Improvements Realign the two lane Frontage Road to connect with Washington St. Install a roundabout intersection north of Custer Ave. Storm drainage system improvements Roundabout rendering

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The Corridor- Project History and Development:

The Custer Interchange Project is located within the urban limits of Helena, MT along a number of routes. All of the routes within the project area are at least 40 years old.

Although many of the routes in question have seen improvements over the years, increases in population and changes in land use have resulted in increases in traffic volumes on I-15 and the surrounding roadways. This has decreased the operating efficiency of I-15 and the interchanges, as well as the east-west roadways that serve and cross I-15.

Rationale:

The Montana Department of Transportation's intent is to improve the operational efficiency within the entire corridor as quickly as possible (which includes safety). The order in which projects are initiated will depend upon many factors that the MDT and the Transportation commission will consider as they go through the project development process. These elements include, but are not limited to; design complexities, right-of-way acquisitions, maintaining essential services such as utilities and access to businesses, the size and cost of individual projects and the adequacy of available funding for those projects.

Montana Department of Transportation

Spring 2012 Updates