The yellow line in the illustration shows the intended route of the Billings Bypass, which could begin construction in 2019. (Courtesy image)
BILLINGS — It is really going to happen.
Longtime residents of the Billings area have heard about the Billings Bypass for so many years that many no longer believe reports that it is finally going to be built — but they will soon be surprised. The first dirt moved for the project is most likely to happen in 2019.
The Billings Bypass is a proposed new route that will connect the north end of Main in the Heights and Johnson Lane Intersection in Lockwood, including a new bridge across the Yellowstone River.
Although it’s not very visible, a lot of work has been done on the Billings Bypass since the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) contracted with DOWL to develop the design, about a year ago. Designs for the first phase of the project are expected to be completed in time to have it to contract in 2018. A lot of data gathering has been going on, reports project leader for DOWL, Todd Cormier, P.E., PTOE. The data is essential in developing a design and planning construction.
Cormier, MDT District Administrator Stefan Streeter and Gary Neville, MDT engineer, met this past week for an update with Yellowstone County News. MDT Engineer Consultant and project manager for the Billings Bypass, Fred Bente, was on conference call for the meeting.
Teams have been gathering detailed information regarding soils, flood plain, traffic patterns and types, and surveying, since the Record of Decision (ROD) was issued in July 2014. Acceptance of the ROD gave the project a green light, following 10 years of research and public comment for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which identified a prospective corridor for the new route.
“We will design the bypass within read more
