Kalispell, Montana – After years of planning, analysis, and community feedback, transportation officials have completed the design phase for a major intersection improvement project in western Montana.
The Montana Department of Transportation and engineering firm Robert Peccia and Associates announced that final design plans have been completed for the Batavia Intersection Improvements project.
The project focuses on the intersection of Batavia Lane and U.S. Highway 2, an area that has been the subject of safety concerns for more than a decade.
According to transportation officials, the completion of the design phase marks an important step toward eventually beginning construction.
“This milestone was reached after years of planning, public input, and evaluation,” MDT Missoula District Administrator John Schmidt said. “Safety was a top consideration, as well as improving operations at this intersection.”
Project moves toward construction phase
With the design work now finished, MDT has entered the next stage of the process, which involves negotiating right-of-way agreements with nearby property owners.
Officials said the project is expected to be advertised for contractor bids in early 2027. Construction is currently anticipated to begin later that same year.
Transportation officials also stated that they plan to continue providing updates to residents and community members as the project advances.
The effort to improve the intersection dates back to 2014, when the Federal Highway Administration conducted a safety audit of the area.
The review identified the Batavia Lane and Highway 2 intersection as a high-priority location because of its history of crashes and concerns about pedestrian safety near Smith Valley School.
Following the audit, transportation officials evaluated multiple alternatives through an Intersection Control Evaluation process. The study examined several options designed to improve traffic flow, reduce vehicle speeds, and increase safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
After years of review, officials selected a roundabout as the preferred solution in March 2022.
Roundabout selected to improve safety
The final design includes construction of a roundabout intended to address many of the concerns raised during the planning process.
Officials said the roundabout will help reduce vehicle speeds while still accommodating large commercial trucks, agricultural equipment, and other oversized vehicles that regularly travel through the area.
The design is also expected to improve pedestrian access and create a safer environment for people crossing the roadway.
Public input played a significant role in shaping the final project. Throughout the evaluation process, residents and stakeholders shared concerns about traffic conditions at the intersection.
Community members frequently pointed to high vehicle speeds along Highway 2, challenges faced by school children crossing Batavia Lane and Highway 2, difficulties making left turns from Batavia Lane, and the need to ensure safe access for commercial vehicles and farm equipment.
Transportation officials said those concerns helped guide the development of the final design and reinforced the importance of improving both traffic operations and pedestrian safety.
With design plans now complete and right-of-way discussions underway, the Batavia Intersection Improvements project is moving closer to construction. Officials believe the future roundabout will provide long-term safety benefits and improve traffic conditions for residents, school families, commercial drivers, and travelers using this important section of Highway 2.
