Road Closure Update
The bridge over the Milk River on Secondary Highway 204 (S 204), commonly known as Stage Road, will be closed starting July 22 to begin construction on the Dodson South Canal project. The closure is expected to last approximately one month. During the closure, a temporary detour will be in place via Alkali Road, South Bench Road, and US Highway 2 (US 2). The detour will be 23 miles long.
Project Overview
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Wickens Construction will be replacing the bridge over the Dodson South Canal, located approximately 2 miles south of Dodson on S 204, with a new structure. To maintain the safety and effectiveness of the route, the existing bridge, which has been identified as being in poor condition, will be replaced with a 14-foot by 10-foot double-cell concrete box culvert.
The planned box culvert will allow for gradual roadway slopes and the removal of the guardrail. This improvement aims to enhance safety features and reduce roadway maintenance. In addition to the bridge replacement, the roadway leading to the new structure will be reconstructed. A pavement preservation project on S 204 between the Dodson South Canal and US 2 will also be completed while the road is closed. This work will include safety improvements, resurfacing of the roadway to extend the life of the existing surface, and rehabilitation of the Milk River Bridge.
This project will include three phases:
- The Milk River Bridge rehabilitation will begin July 22 and is expected to last approximately one month.
- The Dodson South Canal bridge replacement is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, after irrigation water is turned off. That work is expected to take a few months.
- The roadway reconstruction between Dodson South Canal and US 2 will begin in the spring of 2025, after all bridge work has been completed.
All three phases of the project will require the traveling public to use the detour.
The entire detour will be approximately 23 miles long.
Project Map
UPN 9553001, 10226000