Gallatin Canyon work to affect daytime traffic; Big Sky work scheduled at night
EBS STAFF
The first four miles of Montana Highway 64 (Lone Mountain Trail), stretching from the Conoco station to Lone Mountain Ranch, will finally be paved.
MDT announced that milling and paving work will start Sunday, Sept. 21, with nighttime operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. over the course of seven consecutive workdays, weather dependent.
“This project will involve removing the existing surface and applying new asphalt to improve roadway conditions, enhance safety, and extend pavement life,” MDT project manager Josh Ritchie wrote in an email to EBS. “All work will be completed at night to reduce impacts on daytime traffic. We will provide updates with more specific scheduling and traffic control information as it becomes available. Drivers should anticipate nighttime lane closures and reduced speeds during construction and are encouraged to plan accordingly.”
Gallatin Canyon roadway patching
Starting Monday, Sept. 22 and during daytime hours, MDT will conduct a roadway patching project on U.S. Highway 191 in the Gallatin Canyon between Bozeman and Big Sky.
MDT maintenance crews “will focus on repairing deteriorated pavement sections” north of Big Sky, according to Ritchie.
Work will be done from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and is expected to be completed within two weeks. Traffic patterns will be adjusted with single-lane closures and reduced speeds, and drivers should plan for delays.
“This patching effort is intended to improve driving conditions and safety in the short term while preparing the corridor for a much larger and more permanent construction project, which is currently slated for bid in 2026,” Ritchie wrote.
MDT discussed that larger project in May at the Madison-Gallatin joint county commission meeting in Big Sky.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete this necessary interim work. These repairs are a temporary measure to maintain safety and drivability until the full-scale reconstruction project begins next year,” Ritchie wrote.
