HAMILTON, Mont. – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and L & J Construction Group have completed work to rehabilitate 38 bridges between Missoula and Sula in the Bitterroot Valley.
The South of Missoula Bridge Preservation project saw crews rehabilitate the bridges via various methods such as crack sealing, bridge approach smoothing, bridge deck (driving surface) joint repairs, and applying new pavement markings. Each bridge rehabilitated as part of this project was individually evaluated and received improvements based on need.
In 2024, crews rehabilitated 37 of the project’s 38 bridges, including bridges on U.S. Highway 93, Bell Crossing West, Secondary Highway 269, and Secondary Highway 203. Work on the Secondary Highway 531 bridge near Hamilton was postponed until this year due to the weather.
“L & J did a fantastic job quickly and efficiently completing work to rehabilitate these bridges,” said Che Hassan, MDT Missoula District Engineering Project Manager. “These repairs and rehabilitation will greatly extend the service life of these bridges, so they can keep serving the Bitterroot Valley.”
This project successfully extened the service life of 38 bridges originally constructed between 1949 and 2011. Bridge preservation projects such as this one are a cost-effective way to ensure that bridges continue to serve the public for many years to come.
For more information about this project, visit the project website: mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/southmissoula/. For current traffic conditions and up-to-date information about projects across Montana, visit 511mt.net [511mt.net].
Questions or comments can be directed to Tyler Manning at Tyler@rbci.net or 406-333-7215.
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