October 2021

Targhee Turn Lanes thank you

The Targhee Turn Lanes project continues to progress through the design phase. The public’s involvement in this phase by providing insight, voicing concerns, and asking questions, is a vital component to designing and ultimately building a successful project.

Thank you to everyone who attended the open house and participated in the public involvement process. The information gathered at the event was very helpful and informative. To learn more about the open house, visit the Targhee Turn Lanes Public Involvement webpage.

We encourage you to continue to stay involved and informed on the project’s progress.

If you have any questions or comments, please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at sloaneXYZbigskypublicrelationsABCcom.

April 2021

MDT’s Targhee Turn Lanes project remains on track and the project team is in the midst of designing plans. This includes conducting environmental assessments to ensure MDT’s environmental impacts are as minimal as possible. MDT staff look at the landscape, such as creeks and wetlands, and note animals and migration behaviors. Their investigation can influence what months construction ultimately occurs.

Project plans are anticipated to be ready for public review and input this summer/fall. We continue to keep a close eye on the status of COVID-19 and the regional regulations addressing it and look forward to hosting a safe, in-person event.

If you have any questions or comments, please call 406-207-4484 or email Takami at takamiXYZbigskypublicrelationsABCcom.

January 2020

  • An update on the Montana Department of Transportation’s (MDT) Targhee Turn Lanes project: all preconstruction survey work has been completed and staff are now in the process of designing the project. As a reminder, survey crews were present last year measuring the slope and location of the road and noting landmarks and geography for engineering consideration.
  • The project timeline is still on track. Project engineers expect to have the overall outline of project plans available for an open house. MDT staff hope to host an in-person event later this year but want to do so safely and will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and follow state guidelines. As a result, it is not yet known when this event may occur.
  • Further details on the timeline are below:
    • 2021: Project plans take shape. Open house tentatively scheduled for this year.
    • 2022: Right of way conversations underway and project plans become more finalized.
    • 2023: All right of way and project plans are finalized. A contractor is chosen to perform construction.
    • 2024: Anticipated construction and completion.
  • Please note that this timeline is not set in stone. Factors such as the availability of funding and contractors, or right of way negotiations can delay work. We will notify you if any changes occur.
  • If you have any questions, please call 406-207-4484 or email .

October 2020

  • The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is looking for feedback on the Targhee Turn Lanes project. This project involves installing a center turn lane between Old US 20 and Denny Creek Road and a left turn lane at Denny Creek Road. Construction is anticipated to start between 2023 and 2025. Before that, the project will be under design, with engineers building the plans for construction and working with landowners on any needed right-of-way.
  • You may have seen, or will continue to see, workers on the side of US 20 throughout the next few weeks. These workers are surveying, measuring the slope and location of the road, taking note of surrounding geography, and identifying any underground infrastructure to be accounted for during construction. This work helps project engineers design accurate construction plans.
  • MDT anticipates hosting an open house for this project in 2021, complete with project plans for the community to review. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 guidelines and hope to conduct this meeting in-person. Prior to that time, please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.
  • Please note that just two miles away is the Montana/Idaho border, where the Idaho Transportation Department is conducting a separate project from ID 87 to the border. This project is separate from ours but we do mention it in order to avoid any confusion about projects in the future.
  • If you have any questions, please call 406-207-4484 or email .