U.S. Route 93 Alternate (Kalispell, Montana)

Alt
U.S. Route 93 marker

U.S. Route 93 Alternate
Route information
Maintained by MDT
Length: 4.5 mi[1] (7.2 km)
(segments open as of 2013)
Existed: 2010 – present
Major junctions
South end: US 93 south of Kalispell
 

S-503
US 2
S-424 (to be constructed)

S-548
North end: US 93 north of Kalispell
Location
Counties: Flathead
Highway system

Montana Highways
Secondary

← US 93I‑115 →

U.S. Highway 93 Alternate (US 93 Alt. or Alt 93) In the U.S. state of Montana is an alternate route of US 93 that bypasses the central business district of the city of Kalispell.

Route description

US 93 Alt. begins south of Kalispell approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) south of the "Four Corners" junction with Secondary Highway 317 (S-317), and currently runs as a temporary two-lane highway for 4 miles (6.4 km) to US 2 west of Kalispell, and as a four-lane highway concurrent with S-548 for 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to its northern terminus at US 93 north of Kalispell.[2]

Construction planned for 2015–16 includes permanent four-lane highway from US 2 south to US 93 with grade-separated interchanges at both S-503 intersections, and completing the northwest segment from US 2 to S-548 with grade-separated interchanges at US 2, Three Mile Drive (S-424), Four Mile Drive and S-548, and an overpass for Two Mile Drive.[2]

History

The idea for a western bypass to relieve congestion in downtown Kalispell had been discussed for decades with various proposals, most centering on a route on or near the former BNSF railroad route between Somers and Kalispell. The idea finally came to fruition in 1994 with the approval of the region's federal environmental impact statement selecting the route of the proposed Kalispell bypass slightly west of the original railroad route with a bridge over that route to link it to US 93. Corridor design began in 1995, with Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) right-of-way corridor approval in 1997.[3]

In 2004, MDT reevaluated the Kalispell bypass portion of the study, began the bypass design and conducted the first community meeting to give an overview of the project. Design work and right-of-way acquisition continued, and in 2008 the project design was changed to staged construction, to construct as funding allowed, and the segments from US 2 south to US 93 and Reserve Loop (since renamed Old Reserve Drive) to US 93 were chosen as the first to be constructed.[3]

The first segment from US 2 south to the Foys Lake Road/Meridian Road roundabout was completed and opened in fall 2010,[3] the segment from there to the Airport Road roundabout and US 93 was completed and opened in November 2012.[1] The segment from Old Reserve Drive to US 93 was completed and opened in November 2013, and culvert and overpass work for the future S-424 interchange were completed in 2014.[3]

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Flathead County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
 0.0000.000 US 93 – Kalispell, MissoulaSouthern terminus of US 93 Alt.
 1.2482.008 S-503 (Airport Road)Roundabout
 2.5004.023Sunnyside DriveNorthbound exit only, interchange not yet listed in road log—approximate milepoint
 3.2295.197 S-503 (Foys Lake Road/Meridian Road)Roundabout
 4.0006.437 US 2 – Libby, Kalispell
  S-424 (Three Mile Drive)Construction of northwestern segment scheduled for 2015–16
 Four Mile DriveConstruction of northwestern segment scheduled for 2015–16
  S-548 (Old Reserve Drive)Begin S-548 overlap; opened November 2013
  US 93 – Whitefish, KalispellEnd S-548 overlap; S-548 continues east; northern terminus of US 93 Alt.; opened November 2013
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Staff (2013). "Montana Road Log" (PDF). Montana Department of Transportation. p. 117. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Staff. "Kalispell Bypass". Montana Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Staff. "Kalispell Bypass". Montana Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
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