Anaconda, Montana – Drivers and residents in Anaconda should prepare for temporary traffic disruptions next week as the Montana Department of Transportation moves forward with another phase of a roadway improvement project.
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), working with Montana Lines Inc., announced that chip seal work is scheduled to begin in Anaconda during the week of July 6, provided weather conditions and other factors allow construction to proceed as planned.
The project will include improvements along Montana Highway 1 (MT 1), Park Avenue, and Commercial Avenue, stretching from Polk Street to North Cable Road. Once the chip seal has been placed, crews will install temporary pavement markings before returning later to complete the final striping.
Drivers asked to avoid parking in construction areas
Project officials are warning residents that the work will temporarily affect street parking and access to homes and businesses.
“This work will disrupt street parking and driveway access temporarily in Anaconda,” said Shane Clary, MDT’s Engineering Project Manager for the Butte District. “While we work to keep disruptions to a minimum, we ask that motorists avoid parking on Park Avenue or Commercial Avenue for the week.”
Officials said all vehicles parked within the construction zone must be removed before work begins to avoid being towed.
Access to driveways will also be interrupted for short periods while crews apply the chip seal. According to MDT, these temporary closures generally last about 30 minutes.
Drivers are also being reminded not to drive across freshly applied chip seal. Officials explained that doing so could damage the newly placed surface and potentially cause damage to vehicles.
After the chip seal and temporary pavement markings are completed, construction will pause for approximately 30 to 45 days. Crews will then return to install the permanent pavement markings, completing this phase of the project.
The work follows recent progress in nearby Deer Lodge. Last week, construction crews completed chip seal application and installed temporary pavement markings in that community.
The Deer Lodge portion of the project is now on hold while the new surface cures. Crews are expected to return in late July or early August to install the final pavement markings.
MDT encourages motorists to use extra caution in work zones, watch for construction crews and equipment, and allow additional travel time while improvements are underway. The department says the project is intended to help preserve roadway surfaces and improve driving conditions for years to come.
