The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) conducted an open house recently to present a proposal to rebuild about 5.8 miles of Secondary Highway 203 (Eastside Highway) between Stevensville and Florence. The project begins at reference post 4.0, about 3.7 miles north of Stevensville. It extends northerly 5.8 miles to reference post 10.1, about 0.2 miles south of Hidden Valley Road.
The project proposes to reconstruct the road to a 44-foot top width that provides two 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot center/left turn lane, and two 4-foot shoulders. Roadside slopes and ditches will be revised to improve safety. The vertical alignment and drainage features will be upgraded throughout the project. The 90-degree horizontal curves at Rathbun Lane and Ambrose Creek Road will also be flattened for safety. A graded platform for a future shared-use path may also be included.
New right-of way and relocation of utilities will be required. MDT staff has completed survey work and will remain in contact with affected landowners prior to construction regarding property acquisition and temporary construction permits.
Construction is tentatively planned for 2017, depending on completion of design and availability of funds.
Some area residents at the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the plan and recommended a two-lane road with turning lanes installed at appropriate places instead of a continuous center/left turn lane and there was also a strong interest in seeing a bike/pedestrian path included in the plan.
Opinion, comments and concerns may still be submitted in writing by mail to Shane Stack, Preconstruction Engineer, MDT Missoula district office, PO Box 7039, Missoula MT 59807-7039; or online at: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/northstevi/
MDT asks that comments include the project number UPN 6138. Comments must be submitted by October 22, 2015.