Project Overview
Through the Timber Bridges – Glasgow Area project, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and its partners, Sletten Construction and Morrison-Maierle, replaced 16 timber bridges in northeastern Montana. Areas impacted included U.S. Highway 2 (US 2) between Hinsdale and Glasgow, Montana Highway 24 (MT 24) between Glasgow and Opheim, Montana Highway 248 (MT 248) between Opheim and Scobey, and Montana Highway 251 (MT 251) between Poplar and Flaxville.
Seven bridges were replaced in 2023, and eight more were replaced in 2024. The final bridge to be replaced as part of the project, the West Fork Poplar River Bridge, located on MT 248 2 miles east of Richland, was completed in August 2025.
Montana’s aging timber bridges have a limited service life remaining; replacing them is a top priority for MDT. These structures are vital to keeping our communities connected and our economy moving forward. MDT is proactively investing in replacing this aging infrastructure through an innovative bridge bundling program. The Glasgow-area bridges were the first to be replaced as a bundle through this program.
Utilizing a design-build contract, the consultant design firm Morrison-Maierle worked alongside Sletten Construction from the start of the project, allowing the bundled projects to move more efficiently from design to construction-ready. This partnership allowed the project team to develop better solutions, reduce project costs, and maintain quality while expediting project delivery.
Bridge Replacement Locations and Schedule
The schedule, order of bridge replacement, and timeline may change due to weather or other unforeseen factors.
UPN 9885