Traffic Control Update
During construction, motorists traveling through the project area can expect a 16-foot width restriction, reduced speeds, detours, alternating traffic, occasional single lane traffic, and possible delays. Construction updates are available.
All wide loads should coordinate alternate routes with Motor Carrier Services at 406-444-7262.
August 4, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): Crews have removed the detour and are on installing the new bridge rail and finishing drainage work. Roadway paving is planned to begin in late August depending on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5991: Roadway paving is planned to begin in late August depending on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances. The remaining work includes fencing for the stock pass, filing in the newly constructed culvert, and addressing other miscellaneous work items.
Bridge #5992: Crews are working to remove the detour and expect to be finished this week. Roadway paving is planned to begin in late August depending on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Remaining work includes fencing for the stock pass, filling in the newly constructed culvert, and addressing other miscellaneous items.
Bridge #5993: Roadway paving is planned to begin in late August depending on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Remaining work includes fencing for the stock pass, filling in the newly constructed culvert, and addressing other miscellaneous items.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): Crews are working to remove the on-site detour. Work continues on the bridge including installing a new steel railing. Roadway work remains ongoing and is expected to continue for a couple more weeks. In the coming weeks, crews plan to shift traffic from the detour onto the bridge as construction progresses.
Bridge #5995: Crews are working to remove the on-site detour and expect to finish this week. The remaining work includes fencing for the stock pass, filling in the newly constructed culvert, and addressing other miscellaneous items.
Bridge #5996: The on-site detour remains in place, but crews expect to shift traffic back onto the main roadway later this week. The new culvert has been installed, and grading and bridge construction will continue over the next few weeks. Roadway and irrigation work is progressing and is anticipated to continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #5997: The on-site detour remains in place as crews demolish the existing bridge. Once demolition is complete, installation of the new box culvert will begin. This work is expected to last several weeks. Remaining work includes fencing for the stock pass, filling in the newly constructed culvert, and addressing other miscellaneous items.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): The on-site detour remains active while bridge construction progressing. The forms for the bridge deck have been installed, and crews are planning to pour concrete this week. Work on the bridge deck is expected to continue for several more weeks.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour remains active as bridge construction continues. The substructure of the bridge—including the abutments—is nearly complete, and crews are currently working on backfilling and dirt work. Girder (horizontal beams supporting the bridge) installation is planned for the coming weeks, with concrete pouring for the bridge deck planned for September.
July 24, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): This week, traffic was shifted from the detour back onto the main roadway. Roadway paving is tentatively planned for mid-summer depending on the weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Crews will continue removing the detour and completing final bridge and drainage work throughout the month.
Bridge #5991: Crews have completed work on the new culvert. Roadway paving remains planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour remains active. Next week, crews plan to shift traffic back onto the main roadway. Once complete, they will begin removing the detour and performing final bridge and drainage work. Roadway paving remains planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5993: Crews have completed work on the new culvert. Roadway paving remains planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour remains active. In the coming weeks, crews plan to shift traffic off the detour and back onto the bridge as construction progresses. Work continues on the bridge, including waterproofing the new deck. Roadway work remains ongoing and is expected to continue for several more weeks.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is active. Crews have completed installation and backfilling of the new culvert and are working on removing the detour through next week. Irrigation work remains ongoing and is expected to continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #5996: The on-site detour is active. Crews are continuing the installation and backfilling of the new culvert, with work expected to extend over the next several weeks. Roadway and irrigation work is also underway and anticipated to continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #5997: The on-site detour is not yet active. Beginning this week, crews will demolish the existing bridge and start installing the new culvert. Installation will continue over the next several weeks. Irrigation work remains underway and is expected to continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing bridge construction, including the deck and railing. This work is expected to continue for several more weeks. Work on the roadway is also underway and anticipated to last a couple more weeks.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Bridge construction continues with crews expecting to begin work on the bridge deck next week. This week, they are finalizing the abutments and preparing to pour concrete. Girder installation is also expected to begin next week. Drainage work is nearing completion and is anticipated to wrap up by the end of August.
July 11, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The on-site detour remains in place, but the project team is preparing to shift traffic from the detour back onto the main roadway beginning next week. Crews continue to waterproof the new bridge deck and install the bridge rail. Roadwork is ongoing and will continue for a couple more weeks, with paving tentatively planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour is no longer active. Crews continue to work on the culvert, including backfilling which is expected to continue for the next couple of weeks. Crews are also continuing to prepare the roadway surface for paving, planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour remains active. Crews plan to shift traffic back onto the main roadway within the next couple of weeks. The backfilling of the newly installed culvert is ongoing and will continue for a few more weeks. Roadway paving is planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5993: Crews are continuing the final touches for the new culvert. Roadway paving is planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are progressing with bridge construction, including the installation of girders (horizontal bridge beams). Upcoming work includes building the bridge deck and installing the guardrail; this work is expected to continue through mid-August. Roadway work is also ongoing, including excavation and grading for the embankments, and will continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is active. Crews finished installing and backfilling the new culvert and are continuing work on the detour for the next week. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #5996: The on-site detour is active. Work on the foundation and the installation of the new culvert is expected to take place next week and continue for a couple of weeks. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #5997: The on-site detour is not yet active. In a few weeks, crews plan to demolish the existing bridge, followed by installing the new culvert. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are finalizing work on the bridge deck with concrete pouring planned for next week. Roadway work is ongoing and expected to continue for a couple of weeks.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are installing bridge forms and rebar, with construction on the abutments also in progress. Concrete pouring is planned for next week. Meanwhile, drainage improvements are progressing at the bridge site.
July 3, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are waterproofing the new bridge deck. Roadwork is ongoing and will continue for a couple more weeks, with paving tentatively planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing to work on the new culvert and are continuing to prepare the roadway surface for paving, planned for mid.summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing to backfill the newly installed culvert; this work is expected to continue for a few more weeks. Roadway paving is planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5993: The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing to backfill the new culvert in addition to other finish work. Roadway paving is planned for mid-summer. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing bridge construction; this work is expected to continue through the month of July. Roadway work is also ongoing, including excavation and grading for the embankments are ongoing and will continue for a couple more weeks.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is active. Crews finished installing and backfilling the new culvert and are continuing work on the detour for the next week. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #5996: The on-site detour is active. Work to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert is progressing and will continue for the next couple of weeks. The installation of the new culvert is expected to take place mid-July. Roadway work is underway and will continue for the next week. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #5997: The on-site detour is active. Crews are continuing to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert – a process expected to continue over the next couple of weeks. Irrigation work is also underway and will continue during this time.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): The on-site detour remains active. Roadway work is ongoing and expected to continue for a couple of weeks. Crews are continuing to form the bridge deck and expect this work to last for a few more weeks; Concrete pouring for the bridge deck is tentatively scheduled to begin after the holiday.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing to install the foundation and substructure of the bridge and working on the embankments. Crews will begin work on the abutments following the installation of the bridge substructure.
June 23, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews started installing posts and railings and forming the bridge deck. Roadwork is ongoing and expected to last a couple more weeks, with paving tentatively planned for July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour remains active. Crews have completed installing and backfilling the new culvert and are continuing to prepare the roadway surface for paving, which is tentatively planned for July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour remains active. Crews are backfilling the newly installed culvert; this work is expected to continue for a few weeks. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5993: The on-site detour remains active. Crews plan to shift traffic off the detour within the next week. The new culvert has been installed and is currently being backfilled. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing bridge construction, including concrete pours. This work is expected to continue for several weeks. Excavation, roadway work, and installation of protective rock for the bridge will continue for the next week.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is now active. The existing bridge has been removed and the new culvert has been installed. Crews will continue detour work and backfilling the culvert over the next couple weeks.
Bridge #5996: Work to build the on-site detour is underway. Work to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert is progressing and will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5997: Work to build the on-site detour is progressing. Crews are also continuing to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert. This work will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): Roadway work is progressing and will continue for a couple weeks. Crews are continuing work on the bridge beams and forming the bridge deck.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews have completed rerouting the water channel and are continuing work to install the substructure of the bridge. Last week, crews began working on the embankments as well as rerouting the water channel.
June 12, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Last week, crews installed large horizontal beams (girders) that will support the bridge decks. This week, they will begin installing the posts and steel railings, as well as forming the bridge deck. Meanwhile, roadway work is ongoing and will continue for the next couple of weeks. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour remains active. Crews have installed and backfilled the new culvert, and roadway work to prepare the surface for paving is underway this week. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour remains active. Work is in progress to install the new culvert and is expected to continue for a couple weeks. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5993: The on-site detour remains active. The new culvert is installed and is currently being backfilled. Roadway paving is anticipated to begin in July. This work is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour remains active. Crews are continuing to build the bridge. The forms and rebar for the bridge abutments are in place and crews will begin the concrete work this week. Excavation and other work on the roadway will also be in progress through next week.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is now active. This week, crews are demolishing the existing bridge, with completion expected soon. Meanwhile, work to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert is also underway and will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5996: Work to build the on-site detour is underway. This week, crews are demolishing the existing bridge, with completion expected soon. Meanwhile, work to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert is also underway and will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5997: Work to build the on-site detour is underway. At the same time, crews are working to remove, relocate, and replace the existing culvert. This work will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): Work is underway on the roadway. This week, crews will begin work on the bridge beams. The process is expected to continue for the next couple weeks.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): The on-site detour is now active. Crews have demolished the existing bridge, and work on the embankments will begin this week, continuing for the next couple weeks. Meanwhile, work to reroute the water channel is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
May 28, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The on-site detour is active. Work on the bridge abutments and structural concrete is complete. Crews are clearing the protective rock layer around the bridge supports this week. Next week, they plan to place the girders, which are horizontal beams that support the bridge decks.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour is active. Demolition of the existing bridge is complete. Work to install and backfill the new culvert is underway and will continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour is active. Demolition of the existing bridge is complete. Work is underway to install the new culvert and is expected to continue for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5993: The on-site detour is active. Work to install the new culvert is underway and is expected to continue for the next several weeks.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The on-site detour is active. Crews have finished installing the columns that will support the bridge. Work on the bridge abutments is underway and is expected to be completed next week. The bridge girders are planned to be installed in the coming weeks.
Bridge #5995: The on-site detour is built but not yet in use. Fence installation is complete. Work continues on the embankments and temporary culverts. Roadway milling is finished. Crews are demolishing the existing bridge and expect to be finished this week.
Bridge #5996: Fence installation is completed. Work is underway on embankments and temporary culverts. Roadway milling is complete.
Bridge #5997: Fence installation is completed. Work is underway on embankments and temporary culverts. Roadway milling is complete.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): Roadway work is ongoing. Crews are pouring concrete for the bridge abutments this week and plan to finish next week.
Bridge #6101 (Elk Creek): Fence installation and roadway milling are complete. Crews are constructing the on-site detour this week, with plans to complete this work next week. Once the detour is active, demolition of the old bridge will begin in the following weeks.
April 17, 2025
Bridge #5990 (Parr Creek): The demolition of the current bridge is complete. The on-site detour is in use during construction. Work on the abutments is underway and will continue through next week.
Bridge #5991: The on-site detour is complete and is not yet active.
Bridge #5992: The on-site detour is in use during construction. The demolition of the existing bridge is underway.
Bridge #5993: Work on the detour is underway and is expected to be completed next week.
Bridge #5994 (North Fork McDonald Creek): The detour is active, and work is underway on the embankment and the demolition of the existing bridge. Temporary and permanent fencing has been installed.
Bridge #5995: Temporary and permanent fence installation is underway and will continue through the next week. Intermittent work on the embankments will be underway for the next couple of weeks.
Bridge #5996: Temporary and permanent fence installation is underway and will continue through the next week.
Bridge #5997: Temporary and permanent fence installation is underway and will continue through the next week.
Bridge #6005 (Briggs Coulee): The fencing is complete. Work is underway on the roadway and building the forms for the bridge and this will continue for the next few weeks. Work is also ongoing to widen sections of the embankment.
March 10, 2025
The contractors are currently mobilizing and staging equipment and materials in the project area in preparation for of construction.
February 12, 2025
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and its partner M.A. DeAtley Construction, Inc. began work on the Briggs Coulee detour in Spring 2024.
Construction is expected to begin on bridges #5990, #6005, and #5994 in April 2025; however, this is dependent on weather and other unforeseen factors.
If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the project communications team at