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Study Focus

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), in cooperation with Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Lake County, and the City of Polson, conducted a corridor study of US 93 from approximately reference post (RP) 56.5 (US 93/Caffrey Road) and extending approximately 6.5 miles north to approximately RP 63.0, or 0.8 miles beyond the Rocky Point Road intersection. The US 93 Polson Corridor Study was completed August 2011.

Final Study Documents

Complete document (10.3 mb) (archived*)

Study by Section
Cover (archived*)
Table of Contents (archived*)
Executive Summary (archived*)
Introduction (archived*)
Existing Conditions of US 93 (archived*)
Consultation, Coordination, and Community Involvement (archived*)
Corridor Needs and Objectives (archived*)
Alignment Identification (archived*)
Alignment Selection (archived*)
Funding Mechanisms (archived*)
Corridor Study Conclusion (archived*)

Appendices
A: Consultation, Coordination, and Community Involvement (archived*)
B: Environmental Scan Report (archived*)
C: Corridor Study Documentation (archived*)

Study Area Boundary (archived*)

US 93 is a major north/south highway providing a vital link between Missoula and Kalispell, Montana and surrounding communities. The purpose of the study was to determine financially feasible improvement options to address safety, environmental, and geometric concerns of the transportation corridor based on needs presented by the community, study partners, and resources agencies.

This Study considered the feasibility of a truck route, including those potential truck routes brought forward in the 1996 US 93-Evaro to Polson Environmental Impact Statement. General corridors for analysis will be identified based on input from local government, the community, and other agencies. The consultant followed the Montana Business Process to Link Planning Studies and NEPA/MEPA Reviews, which requires extensive community outreach and coordination with other partnering agencies. Issues that were addressed within the corridor study included but were not limited to:

  • Transportation needs/issues
  • Safety
  • Public sentiment
  • Aquatic resources
  • Floodplains
  • Water quality
  • Threatened and endangered species
  • Scenic sections along Flathead Lake