The Montana Department of Transportation is interested in what the public has to say about a proposal to resurface two segments of Interstate 90 near St. Regis and Superior.

The first segment begins east of the Henderson Interchange at exit 22, and extends east for about 5 miles ending near Ward Creek. This is the twisting, curvy area that’s known for semi-trucks tipping onto their sides from driving too fast, and the snow slides that have been known to close the interstate for a few days.

The second segment begins east of the Dry Creek Interchange at exit 43, and extends east for about 10 miles, ending near Lozeau at exit 55. This area only has the exit to Superior on/off ramp at exit 47, but crosses Cedar Creek and the Clark Fork River near River Bend. It’s also a 3.5-mile straightaway in front of the Mineral County Airport which was a required condition during construction of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways when built in the early 1960s.

The resurfacing project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2024, depending on completion of all project development activities and availability of funding. No new right-of-way or utility relocations will be needed. The proposed work includes a chip seal and upgraded pavement markings. The purpose of the project is to preserve and maintain the existing pavement surface.

An important part of properly planning for future projects is partnering with the community. The Department of Transportation welcomes the public to provide ideas and comments on the proposed project.

Comments may be submitted online at www.mdt.mt.gov or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Missoula office, P.O. Box 7039, Missoula, MT 59807-7039. When making remarks, please note that comments are for project UPN 10231000 and should be visible with your notes.

Another venue to voice your thoughts is to contact Missoula District Projects Engineer Ben Nunnallee at 406-523-5846 or Project Design Engineer Nathaniel Walters at 406-523-5833 with questions or comments about the project. Alternative accessible formats of this document will be provided on request.

Persons who need an alternative format should contact the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Avenue, PO Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620. Telephone 406-444-5416 or Montana Relay Service at 711.

East of the planned paving project, big trucks have been seen and will continue to work as spring approaches. Alrick Hale, Western Montana Vice President of Knife River explained the reason there are so many of their trucks on I-90 from the Tarkio at exit 61 to Missoula.

“The trucks and pups people see may seem unusual but for us we are taking this time of year to prepare for the upcoming busy construction season. We’ve leased the gravel pit on the Hankinson property near the (Tarkio) exit as it has an existing mining permit. This equipment doing the hauling will be busy on projects this summer so we are stock piling now while they are basically available.”

Each truck and pup are carrying about 35 tons of pit-run material to Missoula, dumping it and then heading back to the gravel pit. About 15 trucks making three to five trips per day move an incredible amount of material.

“We’re not processing or crushing it at the gravel site, just loading and taking it back where we’ll do the finish work later,” Hale explained.

Along with the gravel excavation lease, Knife River has the option to build an asphalt plant but has no plans of doing that today. He said that he hopes the drivers are doing a good job of being safe as Knife River works hard at safety and being a good neighbor. The sludge from the Long View Ranch Road to the interstate is partly because of winter driving with melting snow but also from the magnesium chloride sprayed to melt ice.

“I spoke with the foreman yesterday about this and he had ordered a sweeper that was delivered the day before to clean up after ourselves,” Hale said.

The hauling will continue through the winter months.