Is a Roundabout Best for a Dangerous Bitterroot Intersection?

After months of speculation and controversy, Bitterroot Valley residents are finally getting their chance to review the details of a proposal to build a new roundabout right in the middle of Ravalli County's busiest highway.

That will include a chance to comment on the plans being developed by the Montana Department of Transportation to improve safety on Highway 93 at Bell Crossing.

There will be three different opportunities to review the project and comment between now and the end of summer.

Get our free mobile app

State: a "strong need" for safety improvements

Efforts to reconfigure the intersection at 93 and Bell Crossing just north of Victor have been on the MDT's radar for several years. The move to change accelerated after a traffic study better illustrated the danger.

The state says there were six total crashes between June 2015 and June 2020, half of which were right angle, T-bone crashes, which are the major problem. And since the study ended, there have been 8 more crashes, 1 resulting in a fatality. None resulted from impaired driving.

A roundabout

Engineers believe a full roundabout would keep traffic moving best through 2045. But if a signal was installed, it wouldn't keep up with the traffic volumes in 20 years.

The two-lane design would be similar to the one constructed on the East Side Highway east of Florence a few years ago, allowing drivers to exit, or slow down to pick a lane to drive through.

MDT graphic

Three open houses

MDT will be conducting three open houses on Tuesday, July 30th, on August 14th, and August 29th. Time and dates are being finalized. People who can attend in person can send an email to request a virtual meeting with a member of the project team.

Details of the plans can also be view at the MDT's project website.