Lolo to Missoula Highway Upgrade: Key Facts About Resurfacing Project

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - About 26,000 vehicles a day travel U.S. Highway 93 between Lolo and Missoula.

With that in mind, the Montana Department of Transportation, in conjunction with Knife River Corporation and Riverside Contracting will resurface the highway between Missoula and Lolo which will start in July and last until October.

I spoke with Dean DeCarlo, Project Manager with the Montana Department of Transportation about the project on one of the busiest highways in the state.

All Four Lanes of US 93 Will be Available in Daylight at a Reduced Speed

“The work that we're going to be doing out there is we will mill and pave between a joint just south of where Highway 12 ties into US 93 in Lolo, and we'll go all the way to Missoula up above Buckhouse Bridge to almost Reserve Street,” began DeCarlo. That will be a 4/10 mill, and we'll put back two lifts of plant mix to effectively fill that trench back in.”

Starting from Missoula, DeCarlo described how the work would be done.

“Our hours are set from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.,” he said. “The contractor will set up traffic control. They will run through their entire work zone to get the work done, and then we'll be off the road by 6:00 a.m. in order to release traffic back to normal flow as is seen now, except we will have reduced speeds through the night and through the day.”

Two Lanes Will be Closed During the Overnight Hours for the Crews to Work

In other words, DeCarlo said that even though U.S. 93 will be reduced to two lanes overnight, all four lanes will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at a reduced speed.

DeCarlo said the MDOT will have both contractors working together during the overnight hours to increase efficiency.

“You've got one contractor producing one type of mix and another contractor producing another kind of mix,” he said. “That means we are actually doubling our production by having two hot plants, two paving crews, and 2 milling crews at all times which will effectively double our staff who are out there putting their lives on the line to get Montana's infrastructure rebuilt.”

Milling and Paving Will Begin on August 5 and Finish by October 5

DeCarlo provided the expected timeline to start and complete the project.

“July 8 is the expected start date when what I'll call the minor work that is going to include some concrete median Island work down in Lolo, and a little bit of what's called manhole and water valve lowering,” he said. “There's going to be quite a bit of that between Buckhouse Bridge and Reserve Street. The big production work, the milling, and the paving won't begin until August 5, and we should be wrapping everything up by October 5.”

READ MORE: Montana Road Construction Alert: Traffic Changes Coming On I-90

According to the MDOT press release, “Montana has two seasons; winter and road construction. Roadway resurfacing work must be done in the warmest months because the asphalt creates a stronger bond, ensuring durability and an extended lifespan.”

To receive regular updates on the project, email becca@bigskypublicrelations.com. You may call the project hotline at 406-207-4484, or sign up for text messages at LOLOMISS at 41411.