MISSOULA – Motorists traveling around Missoula over Labor Day should plan for some possible traffic delays.
Robert Vosen, Missoula District Construction Engineer for the Montana Department of Transportation, reminds travelers that many of Missoula’s roadways are currently under construction and to plan ahead for safe holiday travel.
"The Labor Day holiday is one that many Montana residents and visitors enjoy by being on the road prior to the end of summer,” Vosen said. “While crews will be off of the roadways for the Missoula area projects, it’s important to remember that these are still active construction sites and that all need to be mindful of changing conditions and posted signage. Slowing down and being alert are two of the best ways to ensure all have a safe holiday weekend.”
Van Buren Street Interchange
All Interstate 90 ramps will be open for travel. Crews will stop work the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 31st and will resume the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 4th. Single lane traffic will be controlled by flaggers in both directions on Van Buren Street. Additionally, westbound I-90 traffic will be reduced to one lane for the foreseeable future.
The work on the Van Buren Street project has brought more traffic to the North Orange Street Interchange so travelers should plan for extra travel time when using North Orange Street to enter or exit Interstate 90.
Russell Street – Broadway to Dakota
Construction crews will be off of the roadway by Friday afternoon, Aug. 31st. Work will be stopped for the remainder of the weekend, starting back up on Tuesday, Sept. 4th. Russell Street traffic will continue in the existing configuration above the Milwaukee Trail underpass throughout the week.
ADA
The Missoula ADA improvements being performed on the east side of Higgins Avenue from Brooks to Fourth Street will pause on Friday, Aug. 31st and resume on Tuesday, Sept. 4th at 7:30 a.m. There will be limited lane closures during this time, though slower speeds are still required in active work zones.
Drivers should also plan additional time to travel on Higgins from Brooks to the Higgins Street Bridge since construction will be ongoing in this area until early October, with single lane closures and lower speed limits in place.
Bonner Bridges
Work continues on the Bonner Bridges project on Interstate 90. Traffic will remain in a two-way configuration over the bridge, with traffic control tapers and slower speeds through the work zone. Drivers are asked to use caution when merging into two-way traffic.
Crews will not be in the work zone on Monday, Sept. 3rd and will stop work in the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 31st.
Huson East/Frenchtown Frontage Road
Interstate 90 traffic west of Missoula has been moved to both sides of the interstate. Speed limits are posted at 65 mph in both directions.
Meanwhile, the paving on Frenchtown Frontage Road is continuing. Crews will be off of the roadway at 12 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31st and will resume regular working hours on Tuesday, Sept. 4th.
