Highway project through Ronan remains in preliminary stage
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN – As traffic flow through the Mission Valley continues to rise, completed portions of the People’s Way Corridor from Evaro to Polson have proved to be not only a faster way to get around, but also much safer. The only area not to see these improvements just yet is Ronan, with the project still years away from completion. According to Montana Department of Transportation District Administrator Ed Toavs, the new couplet route is still in the preliminary stage and is expected to be complete anywhere from mid-to-late 2016.
“We’re still very early in the process of hiring a consulting engineering firm and we’re in the process of getting started with design work and pre-construction to get the contract going down the road,” Toavs said.
The preliminary design proposes changing First Avenue to a one-way street serving southbound traffic, while U.S. Highway 93 would handle northbound traffic through town. Additional changes include the placement of traffic signals at the intersections of Buchanan and Main Street, along First Avenue and U.S. Hwy. 93.
“It will improve traffic capacity in peak hours and safety issues and concerns,” Toavs noted. “It will also help with storm water and drain systems and give better access in the city of Ronan.”
Part of the longevity of the project is due to multiple requirements that must be met first. According to Toavs, this includes utilities, people’s private property and those individuals’ access to the roadway.
“Public outreach takes time,” Toavs said.
Completed sections of the road have already proved to be more efficient and safe, according to Arlee Fire Chief Ken Light and Ronan Fire Chief Mark Clary.
“It’s been a big change in road safety,” Light said. “It’s got shoulders, turnouts, and vehicle crash response times have gone down tremendously.”
Arlee’s couplet was completed in the summer of 2009, and Light says it saves 15-20 minutes for drivers.
“It’s been a good thing,” Light added. “There have been fewer wrecks and street crosswalks are marked better. People used to roar through town.”
Even though Ronan doesn’t have the new roads, Mark Clary says the switch from just two lanes to four lanes north of town have helped reduce the number of accidents the department responds to.
“It cut down on traffic accidents,” Clary said. “We don’t have nearly as many wrecks.”
Clary said the stretch from Lake’s Corner to Pablo was a bad stretch before separating north and southbound traffic.
“It’s kinda nice,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had any head-ons since.”
