Open House #3 – Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and its partner Riverside Contracting, Inc. hosted an open house at the Choteau/Teton Public Library on Wednesday September 20, 2023, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming construction on the first project of the Choteau US 89 Road Improvements, Choteau-North.
Public comments and responses through September 20, 2023.
| Public Comment | MDT Response |
|---|---|
| A request for the plans from sheet 46, near mile marker 45. | The plans for the Choteau-North project can be found on the Awarded Bid Packages web page. Click on May 18, 2023 then open the file labeled, "101_CHOTEAU-NORTH". A PDF file labeled "Plans" will show the engineering design drawings. |
| A request to install the quieter type of rumble strips. Where are the rumble strips going and are they on the centerline or shoulders? | Centerline rumble strips will be removed beginning near Fellows Road, extending to the southern Choteau city limits. Quieter rumble strips, called sinusoidal rumble strips, will be installed along the centerline and shoulders from north of the city limits extending past 20th Road Northwest. Centerline and shoulder rumble strips will be installed from the 45-mph sign near the southern Choteau city limits to roughly 1st Lane Northwest. |
| Why did MDT move the whole highway alignment rather than just widen it? | The alignment was chosen based on the Fairfield to Dupuyer Corridor Study findings. A formal document with these findings, called a Record of Decision, can be found on the Finalized EIS & EA web page. |
| Multiple requests for a dedicated bike path. | The two projects south of Choteau are well-defined, and adding non-motorized facilities now would cause significant delays and increased costs. However, all three projects will include wider shoulders. The Choteau-North project is already awarded for construction and will widen the roadway to include four-foot shoulders. The Choteau-South project, which is currently in design, spans from the intersection with Priest Butte Road to the Choteau city limits. It plans for six-foot shoulders at the northern end, including the Teton River bridge, and five-foot shoulders at the southern end. The last project, Freezeout Lake, starts at the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks structure and at Priest Butte Road. It features four-foot shoulders. These are narrower due to the constraints from the railroad to the east and environmentally sensitive wetlands to the west. Local governments and interest groups can pursue other funding sources. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides discretionary grant opportunities, and more information can be found on the Discretionary Grant Programs web page. |
| Residents near US 89 and Bjork Lane would like a no passing zone north of Bjork Lane. | No passing zones are determined based on specific criteria aimed at enhancing roadway safety. Striping in this area has not been determined at this point. |
| Will the removal of trees just north of the Teton River destabilize the bank of the nearby pond? | MDT will clear within the limits of the right of way and will not remove enough vegetation to destabilize the bank. |
We heard you! Here's what you told us at the open house held on September 29, 2021.
| Public Comment | MDT Response |
|---|---|
| The City of Choteau Public Works would like the asphalt millings. We need vast quantities for our streets. Please write contracts so the millings will be available to the City of Choteau. | Millings are not expected on any of the three projects at this time (Choteau-North, -South, and Freezeout Lake). |
| No scenic pullout at Miller Lane and Priest Butte Road. | These are being removed from the design. A highway enforcement pullout is being added, but about a mile south of this area. |
| Fill in the rumble strips east of the Teton Bridge. | MDT understands how these can cause loud noise for nearby residents when drivers go over them. Modified shoulder rumble strips will be installed from Miller Road to the 45-mph zone. These rumble strips are narrower and located further away from the driving lane than traditional rumble strips. This is expected to result in fewer rumble strip contacts and less noise. The existing centerline rumble strips in this stretch will be widened to 12 inches. |
| There is a blind pullout near the project station 410+34. | The entrance to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) access will be relocated further south. |
| Consider wildlife crossing measures such as high fencing and an underground wildlife passage. Some wildlife measures would be helpful between Priest Butte Road and the Teton River bridge. | We do not have additional fencing, underground wildlife passages, or other additional measures in that area between Priest Butte Road and the Teton River bridge. There has already been a wildlife and crash analysis performed in this area. The final recommendation from this analysis is not yet complete but we don't anticipate any additional crossing or fencing features. |
| Drivers are leaving town too fast, heading south. Please consider a speed check of some sort around project station 580+00. Lower the speed limit north of town to 55 mph until Teton Canyon Rd. Also make it no passing because there are too many driveways in this area. |
Speed limit changes must be requested by the local county and supported by a speed study completed by MDT. A speed study was conducted on this area in 2022 and did not justify a change to the posted speed limits. As a result, the speed zones south of Choteau were adjusted to provide longer transitions. Passing lanes are determined by Traffic Engineers. Areas of no passing are finalized just after the road is constructed but before striping takes place. |
| Glad to hear sight distance will be improved with a new bridge. | The sight distance is an important safety factor, and we will make sure it meets the current design standards. |
| A pullout is not wanted near mile marker 39. | This pullout is being relocated further southeast. |
| Signage requests: Large signs prior to Freezeout Lake tourist area only reading “Use Pullouts” Another sign prior to pullouts “Pullout ¼ mile ahead” for every pullout area. Final sign right at the pullout indicating its exact location. |
We will need to coordinate with the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks on this matter. |
| In the tourist area around Freezeout Lake: | |
| Larger pullouts needed. Rather see them wider, as opposed to longer. | Scenic pullouts are designed based on a variety of factors, such as right of way, environmental impacts, and intended usage. |
| Walking path connecting pullouts. Could incorporate a fitness loop. | This is outside the scope of this project. |
| Education kiosks or signs | MDT is coordinating with other state agencies to see if these features can be considered. |
| Pit toilet and signage showing where they are. | This is outside the scope of the project. |
| Alternative routes or side loops that cars can take. | This is outside the scope of this project. |
Entrance to our open house at the Choteau/Teton Public Library.
MDT Great Falls District Preconstruction Engineer, James Combs, using the project map to answer questions.
MDT Engineer, Brandon Olds, discussing the project with residents around the display boards.
MDT Great Falls District Administrator, Jim Wingerter, joined us at the open house and answered questions.
MDT Engineers and residents used the project design plans to discuss their concerns with the animated fly-through video in the background.
Open House #2 – Wednesday September 29, 2021, from 5 to 7:00 p.m.
MDT hosted an open house at the Choteau/Teton Public Library on Wednesday September 29, 2021, to share project information, answer questions and gather feedback. People were welcomed to receive information and discuss the Choteau-North, Choteau-South, and Freezeout Lake projects. If you have any questions about the open house, please contact
Open House #1 – Monday, June 24, 2019, from 4 to 7 p.m.
MDT hosted an open house at the Choteau/Teton Public Library on Monday, June 24, 2019 to share project information, answer questions and gather feedback.
We are still accepting comments! If you would like to submit a comment on the project, please use the comment tool linked below and indicate that comments are for project UPN 8965000.