HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is inviting the public to learn more about plans to construct a roundabout at the Applegate Drive and Lincoln Road intersection in the Helena valley.
An in-person open house will be held on Wednesday, September 3, at Jim Darcy Elementary (Gymnasium), 990 Lincoln Road. The public is encouraged to drop in any time between 4 and 6:30 p.m. to view project information and talk to the project team.
For those unable to attend the in-person meeting, a virtual open house will be held online via Zoom on Thursday, September 4. The virtual open house will have identical information presented and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. The virtual open house will take place from noon to 1 p.m. To register visit the project website at: mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/lincolnapplegate.
“This project was developed due to the number and severity of crashes at this intersection,” said Tyrel Murfitt, MDT Traffic Design Engineer. “Over a 10-year period prior to the initiation of this project, there were 39 crashes including a fatality and three incapacitating injuries.”
After evaluating several intersection improvement options including a traffic signal and four-way stop, and gathering input from the public, MDT determined that the intersection would benefit most from a roundabout design.
“The roundabout design is the safest and most efficient way to control traffic at this intersection,” said Murfitt. “Studies have shown that roundabouts typically reduce injury crashes by 75 percent and reduce fatalities by 90 percent throughout the country.”
MDT has been developing plans to construct a single-lane roundabout, which will enhance safety features and improve operations at the intersection, since 2017. With the final design now complete, construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2026 depending on the availability of funding.
For more information about the open houses, contact Brandon Coates at Brandon@rbci.net or by phone at 406-465-3350.
Any person with a disability needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity or an alternative accessible format of this notice should contact Brandon Coates, 406-465-3350 or MDT’s ADA Coordinator at Matt Maze, 406-444-5416 or Montana Relay Service at 711. Requests for an accommodation to participate should be made by Wednesday, August 27. MDT will attempt to honor requests made after this date.
MDT is a workforce of over 2,000 people across Montana determined to do all we can so that you arrive at your destination safely. Our mission is to build, operate, and maintain a safe and resilient transportation system. For more information, visit mdt.mt.gov.
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