October 2023
Work on the Highway 78 - Red Lodge to Luther project has focused on the environmental impacts of the project. This includes the hydraulic design of the creek channel changes in areas where the creeks follow the current MT 78 alignment that will be impacted by roadwork, as well as the design of bridges over Cole Creek and Powers Creek, that will allow for the safe passage of wildlife.
Feedback provided by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) representatives who recently visited these areas of the project is being incorporated into the design.
(Updated September 30, 2024)
Once all design plans and studies are complete, the findings will be consolidated and coordinated with other plans, surveys, and reports into a scope of work. A scope of work outlines the final design and construction activities required to complete the project.
The scope of work will be shared with the public at a future project open house.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
June 2023
On the Highway 78 - Red Lodge to Luther projects, recent work has focused on wildlife passage design, specifically the design of two new bridges, one over Cole Creek and the other over Powers Creek, that will allow for the safe passage of wildlife. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) representatives recently joined the MDT team for an area inspection.
Other ongoing activities include work on the design of the creek channel changes in areas where the creeks meander alongside the current road that will be impacted by roadwork. The geotechnical engineers are also nearing completion of their study of the rock and soil conditions in the project area. They will consolidate their findings and assess the impacts on the road alignment.
Once these design plans and studies are complete, they will be consolidated and coordinated with other surveys, plans, and reports into a scope of work; an outline of the final design and construction activities required to complete the project.
The scope of work will be shared with the public at a future project open house tentatively scheduled for late 2023 or early 2024. This timeline is subject to change due to unforeseen factors, such as project scheduling, funding availability, and economic conditions.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
March 2023
Wetland mitigation and geotechnical studies are the current focus of the project.
Wetland mitigation studies examine ways to offset unavoidable impacts on wetlands by restoring, enhancing, or preserving wetlands or by establishing new wetlands.
Geotechnical engineers are studying the impacts the project will have on rock and soil, especially in the areas requiring creek channel changes, where it is currently alongside the roadway and will be impacted by road elevation and alignment changes.
Once these studies are complete, they will be consolidated and coordinated with other surveys, plans, and reports into a scope of work - an outline of the final design and construction activities required to complete the project.
The scope of work will be shared with the public at a future project open house tentatively scheduled for late 2023. This timeline is subject to change due to unforeseen factors, such as project scheduling, funding availability, and economic conditions.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
December 2022
Work on the project is underway once again after a brief pause due to the recent emergency flooding response required by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) team.
Work continues on the design of two new bridges at the northwest end of the Red Lodge to Luther project. The new bridges will span Powers Creek and Cole Creek and will be built to accommodate the safe passage of wildlife.
Environmental specialists and hydraulic engineers also continue to work on creek channel changes in areas where it meanders alongside the current road and will be impacted by road elevation and alignment changes.
Once these plans are complete, they will be consolidated and coordinated with other surveys, plans, and reports into a clear and accurate scope of work. This will outline the final design and construction activities required to complete the project. The scope of work will be shared with the public at a future project open house tentatively scheduled for 2023.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
August 2022
Due to the recent emergency flooding response required by the Montana Department of Transportation team, progress has slowed on the Highway 78 - Red Lodge to Luther project. Progress will pick up again in the near future.
The project team continues to focus on the plans and studies required for specific elements of the project. These include design plans for two new bridges that will span Powers Creek and Cole Creek, wildlife accommodation plans, and changes to creek channels that will be impacted by roadwork.
Once complete, these plans, designs, and reports will be consolidated and coordinated into a clear and accurate final scope of work which will be shared with the public at a future project open house.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
April 2022
Work continues to progress on the plans and studies required for specific elements of the project, including bridge design, hydraulics, and geotechnical and environmental impacts.
Bridge engineers are designing two new bridges that will span Powers Creek and Cole Creek. Hydraulic engineers are working on creek channel changes in areas that will be impacted by roadwork. Geotechnical engineers are consolidating their recommendations based on their investigation of the rock and soil in the area, and Environmental specialists are working on wildlife accommodation plans.
Once all plans, designs, and reports are complete, they will be consolidated and coordinated into a clear and accurate final scope of work which will be shared with the public at a future project open house.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
January 2022
With the engineering team’s completion of the Alignment and Grade Report for the Luther – East & West and Northwest of Red Lodge – Northwest projects, other Montana Department of Transportation divisions are now hard at work on their plans and studies.
Environmental specialists have been working on wildlife accommodation plans, and geotechnical engineers are consolidating their recommendations based on their field investigation findings.
Bridge engineers are working on plans for two new bridges on the Northwest of Red Lodge - Northwest project, one spanning Powers Creek and another over Cole Creek. Currently, there are 60-inch culverts in these areas to accommodate the creeks. These will be replaced with short bridges that will allow for safe passage of wildlife as well.
Hydraulic engineers are working on creek channel changes in areas where the creeks meander alongside the current road and will be impacted by roadwork.
Once all plans, designs, and reports are complete, they will be consolidated and coordinated into a clear and accurate final scope of work. MDT plans to share this scope of work with the public at an open house in late summer or early fall where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the project team.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
October 2021
Progress continues on both the Luther – East & West and Northwest of Red Lodge – Northwest projects. The Alignment and Grade report has been completed for both projects and handed off to additional areas in the department to begin work on other required plans and studies involved in roadwork. Bridge engineers have started to design the bridges for the projects, and the environmental specialists are examining how the road and grading plan will impact the environment. Hydraulic engineers are considering channel changes and the width of bridge openings. Geotechnical engineers are evaluating the soil and rock and investigating a spring in the area.
Once the above work is complete, the different divisions will consolidate and coordinate their plans and findings into a clear and accurate scope of work. The scope of work is expected to be completed in summer 2022.
Information about the project, including the latest plans, will be available for viewing at an open house planned for summer 2022. Open house attendees will have the opportunity to offer feedback and ask questions directly to the project team.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Sloane at
July 2021
Engineers are moving forward with installing a short bridge at Powers Creek and Cole Creek. Metal pipes 60” in diameter are currently installed over these creeks. When crossing the highway, larger animals often do not use the culvert as it is challenging to see light through the structure. By installing a bridge, animals will be able to have better lines of sight and will be more likely to cross under the bridge, reducing the chance of wildlife-vehicle crashes.
As a result of this change, staff are now updating bridge plans in alignment with the other details and development of the project. The scope of work report, which further defines and solidifies project plans, is now anticipated to be ready for both projects by the spring of 2022. Our team anticipates hosting an in-person open house once these plans are ready for public consumption. We’re eager to share them with you and hear your thoughts.
In the meantime, all are encouraged to continue to reach out with feedback and questions. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Takami at
April 2021
Work to fill in the details of the project plans in preparation for the scope of work report continues. This report defines and solidifies plans, making changes increasingly more difficult. The scope of work report is anticipated to be complete and approved by this fall, at which time staff anticipate hosting an additional public open house to present updated plans.
Part of the work happening now involves looking at environmental impacts and wildlife crossings. As many locals are aware, wildlife crossings are frequent in the area, which can create safety concerns for both wildlife and drivers alike. Near Powers Creek and Cole Creek, engineers saw a higher number of larger animal crossings and as a result are conducting a preliminary review to see if constructing a short bridge or large culvert (i.e., tunnel) is feasible, allowing for animals to cross under the highway.
Next year, 2022, staff anticipate having the plans mostly developed and starting preliminary right-of-way conversations. Residents with concerns and questions about the project are encouraged to reach out now, while changes are more easily explored and can be potentially included.
You are always welcome to reach out with thoughts and questions at any time. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Takami at
February 2021
In the last project update, an additional meeting to discuss modifying the roadway curves further and submitting plans for an additional Alignment and Grade Review was highlighted. This additional meeting recently occurred for both projects (note that Highway 78 - Red Lodge to Luther is two separate projects adjacent to each other). The preliminary plans from that meeting help solidify where the road will be and how grades (curves and slopes) may change. Those refined preliminary plans are now with other divisions of MDT (Bridge, Environmental, and Hydraulics) so they can refine the details of their designs.
The next step in the process is creating the scope of work report. This document further defines exactly what each project will include. Further details on some of the tasks teams are working on are included in the graphic below:
Click on the image to print, save or view the PDF
Now that the alignment and grade of the project is set, staff wants to meet with landowners once again to discuss how the highway will change and hear any concerns they may have. We are looking at having an event in the spring, and again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is anticipated to be a registration-required event. We also anticipate having a wider community event later in the fall and hope that we are able to meet in a larger group setting. That said, please reach out if you have any concerns or recommendations for collecting feedback differently.
You are always welcome to reach out with thoughts and questions at any time. Please call 406-207-4484 or email Takami at .
October 2020
The Highway 78 – Red Lodge to Luther project plans are being updated. In August, a larger team within the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) met to review plans for the Summit Lane to Scilley Mountain Vista Drive portion of the project. This meeting is called the “Alignment and Grade Review” (AGR) and helps to solidify where the road will be and how curves and slopes of the road (i.e. grades) may change. In this meeting, staff found that the curve plans would likely be too costly and difficult to implement as designed. As a result, curves and grades will still be modified, but not as much as the original plans suggested.
Taking the area’s topography into consideration, one of the project’s primary goals is to improve sight distance. This is how well and how far drivers can see while traveling. Given recent cost findings, the Highway 78 – Red Lodge to Luther project will still improve sight distance while perpetuating the curving nature of the road. This approach reduces impacts to adjacent land and environmental features and is context sensitive to the area.
As a result, project engineers will now alter project plans based upon recommendations from the AGR team. Once project plans integrate these changes, the team will submit plans for another internal Alignment and Grade Review. The western portion of the project, roughly from Scilley Mountain Vista Drive to Butcher Creek Road, will be reviewed later this month.
Once these internal AGR reviews are completed, project planning in more detail can proceed. As a project moves out of the AGR phase, the preliminary roadway planning has been completed. With this engineering in hand, many other divisions within MDT begin shaping the project. For example, environmental teams will determine all environmental impacts. Hydraulics staff will look at the numerous stream crossings and irrigation ditches that will be affected, ensuring that these can flow properly with the changes in the road. All approaches, driveways, and other intersections with the road will be thoroughly researched to make sure that sight distance is adequate for those turning on and off the highway. Details of the project plans will be further filled in, including designing the bridge crossing at Lower Luther Road.
Note that as this work begins, landowners may be contacted to further discuss irrigation, approaches, and other ownership aspects that may be affected by the project. We have not reached the right-of-way negotiation stage. Those conversations are anticipated to start in 2022.
Thank you for all the great feedback we have received on this project. You are welcome to reach out with thoughts and questions at any time. Please call 406-207-4484 or email .
July 2020
The Highway 78 – Red Lodge to Luther project will soon hit its first internal milestone. Since the January 23 open house, the project team has been creating and editing project plans. Later this month, the team will submit the plans for its first internal review. The first section of the plans, from north of Summit Lane to Scilley Mountain Vista Drive, will be reviewed first. This section is also likely to be under construction first. The second section, from Scilley Mountain Vista Drive to Butcher Creek Road, will also be reviewed in the following weeks.
These internal reviews are critical to the project process as they help identify pitfalls and solidify ideas for improving the highway. In this review, the general alignment of the highway will become more set in place.
After this review, project designers incorporate edits and create the “plan-in-hand.” This process can be lengthy as it is the first full draft of project plans and includes numerous details about how each intersection with the highway (both roads and driveways) may change. It also incorporates all drainage and irrigation features.
The construction timeline is still tentative at this time. As a reminder, the earliest year this project could begin construction would 2025 and it is possible that construction may start later than that.
Please note that public feedback is always encouraged and the sooner this feedback arrives, the easier it is to incorporate in project plans. We welcome all to reach out with their thoughts and questions at any time. Please call 406-207-4484 or email .
April 2020
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is continuing to look for feedback on the Highway 78 – Red Lodge to Luther project. Since the open house held on January 23, the following changes have been made:
Limited additional pullout areas. We are currently only planning one pullout west of Hogan School. This is due to the number of people stopping by the school to view the historical marker and to provide a scenic pullout, per comments from the open house. MDT received mixed feedback in general on pullouts. While helpful for larger vehicles, some residents shared concerns about how many pullouts were being added and the significant amount of right-of-way needed. Additionally, MDT discussed bus pullouts with Red Lodge Community Foundation, Red Lodge School Transportation, and Luther School Transportation, all of which stated there is no need for bus pullouts along this project in the foreseeable future. As such, we have reduced the number of pullouts.
Adjusted right-of-way in certain areas. We continue to have ongoing conversations with landowners on this issue. Landowners can expect to have these negotiations in late 2021 or early 2022.
For those interested in viewing updated plans and how vertical curves in the project will change, please visit: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/hwy78/documents.shtml. Vertical curves are the steep ways a road can rise and fall. Drivers often experience a “roller-coaster” effect when traveling quickly over these curves.
MDT anticipates submitting project plans for internal review this fall. We encourage feedback regarding major changes you wish to see sooner rather than later. As the project moves forward, plans become more set. However, do not hesitate to reach out to us in the coming years as well with questions/concerns. We are here to help.
If you have any questions, please call 406-207-4484 or email .