US 2 - Hungry Horse to Stanton Creek
The Montana Department of Transportation will be hosting two open house sessions to provide information to the public about the upcoming work for the US 2 – Hungry Horse to Stanton Creek project. The first session will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the second will be held virtually via Zoom on Friday, April 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration is required to attend Friday’s virtual session. To register, visit the registration page. The public and media are invited to engage directly with the project team that will be conducting necessary pavement preservation work on 26 miles of US 2 between Hungry Horse and Stanton Creek.
Weekly email and text updates are available for this project. To sign up for the weekly email, contact Amy at amy@bigskypublicrelations.com or call the project hotline at 406-207-4484. To register for the weekly text update, text US2HUNGRYHORSE to 41411.
Glacier National Park will also have some construction happening this summer. To find out more information about their plans and updates, visit https://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm.
It’s National Work Zone Awareness Week. This event is held each spring to raise awareness as roadway work gets into full swing. The goal is to remind everyone of the importance of paying attention as they approach and drive through work zones so that both motorists and roadway workers remain safe. Drivers are urged to take note of reduced speed limits, eliminate distractions and be watchful for roadway workers and their equipment. While roadway workers make every effort to work safely, they are counting on you to do your part. Pay attention, slow down, wear your seatbelt, don’t drive impaired, and be extra cautious as you pass through work zones. Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.
Project Overview
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will be conducting necessary pavement preservation work on 26.2 miles of US 2 between Hungry Horse and Stanton Creek. The most direct route from Columbia Falls to East Glacier, it is critical that US 2 remain strong and safe for commuters, tourists, business owners and nearby residents. This project preserves the lifespan of the frequently traveled road while also making it safer for motorists and pedestrians.
What’s going to be done?
Enhancements to US 2 include:
Roadway resurfacing. US 2 will be resurfaced largely through cold in place recycling, a sustainable process that recycles and rejuvenates the existing asphalt without additional environmental impacts. Other preservation methods to be used in some sections of the project include mill/fill in isolated areas and microsurfacing.
New pavement markings. Pavement markings will be freshly painted to enhance their visibility.
Upgraded guardrail. New guardrail will replace sections of deteriorating guardrail. New guardrail will be added to particularly narrow sections of roadway.
Additional rumble strips. Rumble strips are the vibrating divots that keep drivers alert. Adding rumble strips will make the road safer for drivers and pedestrians and cyclists who utilize the shoulder.
ADA ramp sidewalk upgrades. Sidewalk ramps and approaches ramps will be upgraded to meet current ADA standards.
Making US 2 Safer
357 crashes have been recorded between 2009 and 2019 on this section of US 2. To address this need and in the spirit of MDT’s Vision Zero, a multipronged initiative with the ultimate goal of eliminating deaths and injuries on Montana highways, centerline and shoulder rumble strips will warn motorists when they begin to depart their lane. New guardrail and concrete barrier will be installed to meet current crash testing standards. New signage and pavement markings will enhance their visibility. Also, the barrier at the Moccasin Creek bridge will be reconfigured so that it will allow more room for turning vehicles to exit the highway.
Preserving Our Highway
Resurfacing is critically needed to prolong the life of US 2. By resurfacing the road in the summer of 2021, future maintenance will be minimized and taxpayer money spared. If the road is not resurfaced, the road surface will begin to deteriorate rapidly and make travel very difficult through this area. In short, completing roadwork now, will save time, money and resources in the future.
Construction Impacts & Delays
The multiple lanes on US 2 through Hungry Horse and Coram will allow us to keep traffic moving in that area. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
East of West Glacier is a tight two-lane corridor with little room for traffic. For this reason, work zones between West Glacier and Stanton Creek will require single-lane traffic zones. Expect delays of up to 45 minutes.
Why This Summer?
Although summer is the busiest time for those traveling on US 2 to access Glacier National Park, the construction must occur in warm weather. The environmentally sound process used to refurbish the road has to occur in 65 degrees or warmer. Therefore, construction can only occur during the summer months.
Public Involvement
Keeping businesses, travelers, and residents informed of the upcoming construction is a top priority. MDT has retained Big Sky Public Relations to carry out a robust public awareness plan so all those affected by this project can stay in the loop and offer feedback.
MDT and Big Sky Public Relations are currently holding one-on-one in-person and virtual meetings with those most affected by the upcoming road work. If you believe that you will be impacted by the construction, you are urged to reach out to Amy Aiello at via email.
You can also expect several public events to better inform the community of the upcoming roadwork. Event dates will be posted to this website as they are scheduled. We look forward to hearing from you in the upcoming weeks. Big Sky Public Relations will also be sending update emails each week. If you would like to register, please contact Amy.
Stay in the know
Amy Aiello
Big Sky Public Relations
406-207-4484
UPN 9702000, 9703000, 9704000
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