Project Overview

The project is located along Merrill Avenue in Glendive, beginning south of the intersection at Douglas Street and extending north about 2 miles to the I 94 interchange.

The project will improve existing traffic operations and safety by providing roadway and intersection safety improvements; extending pavement life; and reducing maintenance costs. The project includes:

• Improve pedestrian connectivity – extend the pedestrian sidewalk along the west side of Merrill Avenue from Griswold Street to just north of the I 94 interchange.
• Reconfigure intersection operation and layout at Merrill Avenue and Douglas Street.
• Preserve pavement – mill and overlay of the existing roadway surface.
• Restripe from four lanes to three lanes, which allows for adding bike lanes and preserves existing parking shoulders in most areas.
• Add a mid-block median refuge island with curb bulb-outs and pedestrian actuated flashing lights at the high school.
• Add additional curb bulb-outs at Slocum Street and the mid-block crossing just north of the Eastern Plains Event Center to reduce pedestrian crossing distances.
• Upgrade pedestrian curb ramps to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Most of this work has already been completed.

The roadway improvements were recommended as part of the 2016 Merrill Avenue-Douglas Street to Oregon Line Traffic Study. The pedestrian improvements are included in the City of Glendive’s City-Wide Strategic Trail Plan. See above for links to the traffic study and pedestrian plan.

Project Team

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is collaborating with the City of Glendive to deliver the Merrill Avenue Improvements Project. Cooperative decision-making between MDT and the city will help to determine project priorities, preferred alternatives, and cost-effective solutions.

MDT has hired the HDR team to support stakeholder engagement and help identify project priorities.

Schedule

Construction for this project is underway. Traffic controls will be in place, and the traveling public should expect reduced speeds, flaggers, and one-lane traffic. Construction will occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, weather and other factors permitting. Please follow all posted signage and watch for workers when traveling through the project area.

To subscribe to weekly construction updates:

Email: MerrillAvenueXYZhdrincABCcom

Text: ‘MerrillAvenue’ to 844-575-1889*

*Msg and data rates may apply. 4msg/month. Reply STOP to opt-out anytime. Reply HELP for help. Texting alerts are not managed by MDT and may have different privacy and security policies. Terms and Privacy Policy can be found at Simple Texting Terms and Conditions.

NOTE: The posted speed limit is 25 mph. No passing. Help keep construction workers and other drivers safe by following all posted signage.

Project Location Map

The project begins south of the intersection at Douglas Street and extends north about 2 miles to the I 94 interchange.

Stay Informed, Stay Involved

In addition to stakeholder meetings, the project team will communicate with you using direct mail, social and traditional media outreach, and a project website, among other tools.

New project information will be posted on this website as it becomes available, but you can request to be added to our mailing list or submit a comment electronically. To send us your U.S. mail or email address or to submit a comment, visit MDT’s Online Comment Form here.

Please note that your comments are for the Merrill Avenue Improvement Project, UPN 9416000. Thank you!

Vision Zero

MDT adopted the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries, while increasing safety and mobility for all roadway users. MDT is working toward Vision Zero’s goals by engineering Montana roadways to ensure Montana’s thousands of miles of state roads and highways are built and maintained with safety as the first concern.

To eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Montana roads, we need everyone to do their part.

• Drive attentively
• Drive sober
• Drive to the conditions of the roadway and do not speed
• Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycles
• Give construction workers a brake
• Eliminate distracted driving, including cell phone use
• Wear your seatbelt

Funding

In general, Montana's roads and bridges are funded through a combination of federal (88.5%) and state/local (11.5%) funding sources. MDT receives no funding from Montana's general fund revenue. Federal road and bridge revenues are generated from the users of our highways through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and apportioned to states through federal highway legislation.

MDT prioritizes the highest needs across the state while making funding decisions each year.

UPN 9416000