Public encouraged to weigh-in at public meeting
Department of Transportation seeks input on intersection safety improvements south of Pablo
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News from the Montana Department of Transportation
PABLO – Roadway users will have an opportunity to weigh-in on potential improvements to the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and Old Highway 93, south of Pablo, at a public meeting on Thursday, June 27, at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council chambers from 5-7 p.m.
Long-standing safety concerns are driving improvements to the intersection, which has seen a total of 15 crashes and two fatalities over a 13-year span. The intersection requires drivers to cross multiple lanes of high-speed traffic.
“Anytime two high-speed roadways cross one another there’s an elevated crash risk,” said Scott Gerken, MDT project manager. “If a driver judges the gap between traffic incorrectly it can quickly become a deadly T-bone style crash.”
Upgrades to the intersection are focused on reducing the potential for crashes through improved intersection design.
“We’re trying come up with an alternative that addresses the safety issues at the intersection, while accommodating local needs,” said Gerken. “The goal is to work with the community to eliminate the most high-risk crossing and turning movements on Old Highway 93.”
The changes are expected to have a significant impact on traffic operations at the intersection, which is why MDT is asking for public input early in the process. Those attending Thursday’s meeting will have an opportunity to review potential intersection configurations, ask questions of MDT staff and provide their thoughts on ways to improve safety at the intersection.
The project is currently in the preliminary design phase and MDT is seeking input on alternative intersection configurations before proceeding with engineering.
Comments can also be sent to Melissa Shannon at melissas@strategies360.com. Please indicate comments are for the Pablo Safety Improvements Project. For more information, visit the website at https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/Pablo.
The Department of Transportation will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this public meeting or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact Chris Puyear at 406-431‐2499, no later than 12 p.m. on June 24, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Alternative accessible formats of this information will be provided upon request. Persons who need an alternative format should contact the Office of Civil Rights, P.O. Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620; 406-444‐9229; fax 406-444‐7243 or email to aflesch@mt.gov. Those using a TTY may call 800-335‐7592 or through the Montana Relay Service at 711.
