Timber Bridges Replaced In Northeastern Montana
The Montana Department of Transportation and its partners, Sletten Construction and Morrison-Maierle, replaced eight timber bridges during the 2024 construction season through the Timber Bridges - Glasgow Area project.
A total of 15 timber bridges have been replaced in the past two years as part of this effort. The final bridge replacement for the project is expected to be completed in summer 2025.
“Completing these bridge replacements enhances travel safety, reinforces Montana’s infrastructure and keeps our economy moving forward,” Shane Mintz, MDT Glendive district administrator, said. “Since the initiation of this project and the innovative bridge bundling program implemented to accelerate the replacement process, additional timber bridge bundling projects have been launched. We are dedicated to carrying out these essential replacements as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
The Timber Bridges- Glasgow Area project was the first MDT project to utilize the bridge bundling program, which streamlines the design and construction of multiple bridges under a single design-build contract. Design consulting firm Morrison- Maierle has worked alongside Sletten Construction from the beginning, allowing the bundled projects to move more efficiently from design to construction. This partnership has allowed the project team to develop better solutions, reduce project costs, and maintain quality while expediting project delivery.
“Sletten Construction is proud of the exceptional efforts of our team members and our partner, Morrison- Maierle, in achieving so much within such a short timeframe. We are excited to begin work to replace the final bridge in this project,” said Russell Robertson, bridge division manager at Sletten Construction. “We greatly appreciate the community’s continued patience and support as we complete this final phase.”
The timber bridges replaced this year include bridges on US Highway 2 (US 2), 6 miles, 7 miles, and 12 miles northwest of Glasgow; Montana Highway 248 (MT 248), a half mile west of Four Buttes; Montana Highway 24 (MT 24), 18 miles and 25 miles west of Opheim and 6 miles north of Glasgow; and Montana Highway 251 (MT 251), 20 miles northeast of Poplar.
This winter, work will begin on a detour next to the West Fork Poplar River Bridge on MT 248, 2 miles east of Richland. This is the final bridge scheduled for replacement through the project. Work will occur as weather allows and minimal traffic disruption is expected.
For a schedule and map of the timber bridge replacements, visit mdt.mt.gov/ pubinvolve/glasgowtb/. Regularly scheduled email and text updates are available during construction. To sign up for updates, or if you have questions or concerns, email Sloane at sloane@bigskypublicrelations. com or call the hotline at 406-207-4484, operated during business hours.
About MDT: At MDT, our mission is to plan, build, operate, and maintain a safe and resilient transportation system to move Montana forward by setting the gold standard for a highly effective, innovative, and people-centric department of transportation. For more information about MDT and the work we do on behalf of Montana’s traveling public, visit mdt. mt.gov.
