More traffic disruptions hit Ronan with Round Butte project
Ronan continues to be at the epicenter of Montana Department of Transportation projects in the Mission Valley. And that’s even more true this week as work expands to Round Butte Road where MDT, along with construction partner Riverside Contracting, began a resurfacing project Monday, June 19.
This project begins at the intersection of Round Butte Road with Ag Services Lane and extends west for four miles, ending just past Guenzler Lane.
“We understand that there is already a significant amount of construction currently underway in Ronan, however, this Round Butte Road project will be short and will benefit the community by creating a smooth traveling surface on an important route,” said Bob Vosen, MDT Missoula District administrator. “We thank the Ronan community for their support and patience and encourage residents to reach out with any questions or concerns.”
Improvements include resurfacing the roadway, seal and cover (chip seal), fog seal, new pavement markings, and installing rumble strips.
Crews will begin by milling one side of the roadway for the entire project length. This entails removing a thin layer of the existing pavement to create a smoother driving surface. The roadway will then be repaved before the same process takes place on the other side of the roadway.
The initial work, including milling and paving, will be completed within approximately one week, weather permitting. Later this summer, crews will complete a chip seal and fog seal.
This week, traffic will travel on one lane of Round Butte Road, controlled by pilot cars. Traffic lights and flaggers will also be on-site, and speeds will be reduced.
Drivers should plan for delays of approximately 15 minutes when passing through the construction zone. Crews will work Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ronan-North project continues
Progress continues on the U.S. Highway 93 Ronan-North project. Riverside Contacting crews installed gravel Saturday, June 17, on the roadway between the Old U.S. 93 and 3rd Avenue intersection near Dairy Queen, just north of the Round Butte Road intersection.
This week, at the north end of the project, crews are constructing the base of the new roadway and began installing pipe in the median. Concrete work also continues at the Round Butte Road intersection.
Crews are onsite from 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
MDT anticipates fewer traffic delays through the construction zone, however, flaggers are still present at the truck turnarounds at the Round Butte Road/Terrace Lake Road and Old U. 93/3rd Avenue intersections.
Work continues on the new approach to Lake Seed. Once the approach is complete, Spring Creek Road at U.S. 93 will be permanently closed – a move expected to take place next week.
For more information or to receive weekly updates on the construction projects underway in Ronan, email Sloane at sloane@bigskypublicrelations.com or call the hotline at 406-207-4484 during business hours.