Hello, snow-dusted readers! Today’s Roundup is for those who have found themselves stuck waiting for a pilot car on U.S. Highway 93 west of Whitefish or caught in a string of red brake lights on their way home from work on Montana Highway 82, inching toward Sportsman’s Bridge. I know I’ve been wondering what the foreseeable future of some of these projects might mean for my daily commute, so let’s get into it. I’m Zoë Buhrmaster, here with updates from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) on four construction projects in Flathead County.

Crews are pausing the reconstruction of U.S. 93 west of Whitefish until the spring. That means no more waiting for pilot cars to guide you along the roughly three miles of road from where the project begins near the intersection at Mountainside Drive to its terminus just past Livermore Flats.

The undertaking includes installing safety enhancements such as designated turn lanes, guardrail, wider shoulders, new signage, and a separated shared-use path with ADA-compliant handrails. MDT officials are tentatively planning to finish the project in summer 2027.

Construction on Reserve Drive, from Hutton Ranch Road to Whitefish Stage Road, is coming to a close for the winter season as well, with crews cleaning up the area today. The project includes various improvements to meet the growing city’s traffic, such as widening the road from three to five lanes, adding a center turn lane, replacing the Stillwater River bridge deck to include sidewalks, and installing a shared-use path and a pedestrian sidewalk. Work is set to resume in the spring.

Those headed southeast to Bigfork and beyond can expect to see construction crews onsite working to replace Sportsman’s Bridge throughout the winter months. MDT and Sletten Construction will be building the bridge’s foundation. While speed limits will remain reduced to 35 mph, MDT officials said that they anticipate minimal traffic disruption on MT 82 during the process, and construction will break for the Thanksgiving weekend and periods during Christmas and New Year’s.

Finally, MDT officials announced “substantial project completion” at the intersections of U.S. 93 and Treeline Road, with the final striping to be done in the spring. Construction workers added dedicated left turn lanes and permanent pavement markings and upgraded sidewalks and ramps to ADA standards.

“Seasonal transitions are an important part of construction planning in Montana,” Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula district administrator, said. “We appreciate the patience of Kalispell and other surrounding communities as we prepare these projects for safe winter travel.”

This holiday season, celebrate the spirit of our community by shopping local. Every purchase you make from a neighborhood business helps support local jobs, families, and the unique character that makes the Flathead Valley such a special place to call home. From thoughtful gifts to festive experiences, our local shops have everything you need to make the season bright. Here’s some information on how to keep it local this holiday season.