The project schedule may vary depending on the availability of funding, right-of-way acquisition, complexity of the proposed improvements, and other factors. The graphic below shows a tentative project timeline.
The estimated project cost is broken down by project segment below.
| Five Mile Road: | $5.8M |
| Yellowstone River Bridge: | $32.5M |
| Railroad Overpass | $19.5M |
| Johnson Lane Interchange: | ~ $78.1M |
| Johnson Lane Interchange – Railroad Overpass: | ~ $8.1M |
| Five Mile Road to US 87: | ~ $14.8M |
| TOTAL | ~ $158.8M + I.C. |
Yes. MDT has identified funds for the entire project, which is divided into six segments to accommodate design and construction scheduling and funding needs.
The new arterial roadway connecting Johnson Lane Interchange (in Lockwood) and Main Street (in the Billings Heights) has been named NE Billings Bypass. The following graphic identifies this road in orange.
Several alternative alignments, or routes, were considered throughout the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision. Alternatives were evaluated against several criteria, including how well an alternative would meet the project purpose and need, community needs, construction and right-of-way costs, constructability, and traffic flow. After careful analysis, the alignment selected best fulfills project and stakeholder goals.
The NE Billings Bypass is being constructed as a two-lane road, with one lane in each direction. However, the roadway has also been designed as a four-lane roadway to accommodate future expansion. This will enable MDT to add travel lanes in the future.
Two roundabouts were constructed as part of the Five Mile Road segment of the project (Segment 1) and are located at the Five Mile Road intersections with Old Highway 312 and NE Billings Bypass. All other project intersections will be controlled with either traffic signals or stop signs.
The Johnson Lane Interchange will be reconfigured into a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI), the first to be built in Montana. This interchange design was selected after detailed traffic operations and geometric analyses, and several alternatives were studied. This design offers many safety benefits and will accommodate all types of users, including trucks, cars, recreational vehicles (RVs), bicycles, and pedestrians. A video simulating traffic through the Johnson Lane Interchange DDI is available here.
A section of road will be constructed approximately 130 feet north of Mary Street (centerline to centerline) to connect NE Billings Bypass to the Main Street intersection with US 87 and Old Highway 312. This section of roadway will provide access to Mary Street at Bitterroot Drive and Hawthorne Lane. See the graphic below for a visual of where the new roadway will be located.
The City of Billings currently classifies Mary Street as a principal arterial. As this project develops, the City is expected to reclassify Mary Street as a “local” road. Mary Street can be expected to operate as it does today, as a local road providing direct access to nearby homes.
As part of the reconstruction of the Main Street, US 87, Old Highway 312, and NE Billings Bypass intersection, Mary Street will be reconnected to Bench Boulevard. Access to Main Street from Bench Boulevard will be available via Pemberton Lane to enhance safety.
The design of the roadway’s drainage considers how the roadway will impact pre-construction drainage conditions. The drainage design minimizes impacts to existing drainage patterns while focusing on preventing flooding to adjacent properties and structures.
This project includes plans to construct roadside ditches to convey surface drainage above groundwater levels and prevent changes to groundwater levels. Any existing groundwater drainage channels affected by the new roadway will be reconstructed to continue collecting and transmitting groundwater.
Yes, you can bike and walk along the new road. Nearly all Montana roads, excluding the urban freeways, are generally considered open to bicycle and pedestrian traffic, either directly on the street, road shoulders, or sidewalks. A 10-foot shared-use path has been constructed on the Yellowstone River Bridge for this purpose.
MDT conducted studies for this project, which included an analysis of anticipated changes in traffic noise. Noise receptors measured the current noise levels within approximately 500 feet of the NE Billings Bypass roadway alignment. Expected future noise levels were then modeled using nationally defined noise analysis methods. Based on the analyses conducted, the anticipated change in ambient noise isn’t enough to require noise mitigation measures (see EIS Section 4.3.8.2.3). Information about specific areas along the alignment is available in the EIS document.
The new road will accommodate several modes of transportation, including trucks. One of the project’s goals is to improve access and mobility in the eastern area of Billings and to improve connectivity between I-90 and Old Hwy 312/US 87.