A proposed overpass on the U.S. Highway 93 Alternate Route over Two Mile Drive will remain in the works after the Montana Department of Transportation evaluated possibly changing it to a roundabout.
At the request of local landowners in Flathead County, MDT considered the potential impacts of changing the planned overpass configuration. MDT received 36 written comments and the input was equally balanced between the overpass and roundabout, according to MDT.
The department decided to retain the 2006 recommendation for a Two Mile Drive Overpass — with no connectivity between Two Mile Drive and the Bypass — due to several factors, including no right-of-way or long-term cost savings, equal public support and the disruption of the free-flow travel on the current bypass corridor.
Two Mile Drive traffic will access the bypass via U.S. 2 or Three Mile Drive. Non-motorized users will access the proposed 8-mile bike path by crossing above the bypass on sidewalks within the Two Mile Drive overpass. Construction is not yet scheduled or funded. Right-of-way acquisition has been completed and utility relocation is still be required.
For more information, please contact Ed Toavs, Missoula District Administrator at 406-523-5802. People may submit written comments to the Montana Department of Transportation Missoula office at PO Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039, or online.