Preconstruction

• On this page:
• Highways Bureau
• Bridge Bureau
• Right-of-Way Bureau
• Consultant Design Bureau
• Traffic and Safety Bureau

The Preconstruction Program involves planning and developing the details of construction projects. This includes determining the location and design features, conducting public hearings and working with local officials, acquiring property for right-of-way and processing contracts up to the time they are awarded to private contractors.

Highways Bureau

The Highways Bureau handles technical activities on highways from the time a project is programmed until the start of actual construction. This includes location and road design, hydraulic studies, and photogrammetic mapping.

Bridge Bureau

The Bridge Bureau designs all major bridges for highways controlled by the department, and approves bridge design performed by consultants.

Right-of-Way Bureau

The Right of Way Bureau acquires land for highways. It also provides assistance and payments to individuals and businesses relocated by highways, designs the right-of-way, and arranges for relocating utilities that conflict with highway construction.

Utilities Section Contacts

Consultant Design Bureau

The Consultant Design Bureau manages and develops design projects including coordinating and documenting design work between consultants and the MDT; compiling road plan packages; and obtaining, reviewing and distributing consultant work products such as specialty plans and reports. The Bureau also manages the Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) and the sub-allocation of funding to qualifying Montana local government units for the construction and development of eligible projects under the federal enhancement set-aside provision.

Traffic and Safety Bureau

The Traffic and Safety Bureau is responsible for providing management, design, and technical support for traffic and safety engineering functions. It is responsible for managing and coordinating the highway safety improvement and railroad crossing safety improvement programs. It develops and reviews plans and specifications for geometric features, signing, pavement marking, electrical and highway safety improvement projects. It also performs traffic and safety engineering investigations.