Packed House, High Stakes: Broadwater Residents Press MDT on Highway 287 Safety
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
The Flynn Building meeting room was packed Jan. 14 as Broadwater County residents turned out in force to press Montana Department of Transportation officials on a familiar theme: Highway 287 and U.S. 12 feel increasingly dangerous, and the community wants near-term fixes while longer-range projects inch forward.
Commissioners opened the discussion by setting expectations for an unusually structured meeting, asking speakers to keep comments to five minutes and to state and spell their names for the record. MDT staff introduced themselves alongside representatives from Great West Engineering, then walked the room through a broad overview of current and planned projects in the county.
Among the concepts in early design are safety improvements along U.S. 12 and Highway 287, shoulder widening, added turn lanes, and roadway widening in select segments intended to improve traffic flow and operations. MDT emphasized that much of the work is still in the beginning stages, with design milestones and construction timing dependent on funding. Additional public engagement opportunities are expected as designs advance.
That long timeline was a sticking point for many in attendance. Notes from reporter Nancy Marks described a discussion that widening and adding turn lanes could fall outside the five-year window—pushing construction planning toward 2030. Residents were encouraged to submit comments on upcoming highway upgrade plans to the commissioners, and MDT indicated an open house is planned to further inform the public. One of three projects expected this year, MDT said, is a seal-and-cover effort on Highway 284 along the backside of Canyon Ferry Lake, from the flashing light to the dam.
Public comment repeatedly returned to the stretch near the silos and other access points where drivers say turning movements, passing traffic, and speed combine into a high-risk mix. Dwight Thompson, a homeowner at mile marker 73, said he wrote to MDT’s Ray Peterson in 2017 asking about a flashing light and turn signals at the silos turnoff, and was told there had not been enough fatalities to warrant action. Thompson also suggested an official turnout on Highway 287 at the Blue Horses structure in south Broadwater County.
David Flaskey, who also lives near mile marker 73, urged a no-passing zone between the Mansion area and the silos, describing how stressful it can be to slow for a turn with a semi behind him attempting to pass. J.B. Howick, owner of Townsend Hardware, asked for better signage at the Bunkhouse turnoff, citing a blind spot for traffic coming up behind drivers. “A year or more is too late,” Howick said in remarks summarized in Marks’ notes, adding that signage could be placed at the crest of the bridge.
MDT’s maintenance representative offered a measure of near-term hope, saying that if a need can be identified, the department can install signage for a no-passing zone or implement striping—work that could potentially be done this spring.
Safety questions extended beyond vehicles. Carol Hatfield, a retired resident and Parks and Recreation Board member, noted that Highway 287 runs parallel to a wildlife management area and urged planners to consider wildlife crossings—overpasses or underpasses—paired with fencing to accommodate moose, deer, and antelope. Trails Committee members also raised concerns about safe pedestrian connections, with Al Christophersen suggesting a trail route from the River Bridge to the silos and an underpass at the silos turnoff. Landowner John Hahn said the Trails Committee is interested in a pedestrian trail to Cottonwood Campground Road and wants to ensure it is not used by ATV traffic.
Questions about speed limits and how MDT measures risk also surfaced. MDT staff explained that recent speed limit changes were implemented under state law and legislative direction, and that safety assessments typically rely on 10 years of crash data for system-wide analysis, with shorter windows sometimes used for project-specific recommendations. Shawna McCauley asked about the time span used for “crash clusters,” and MDT’s David said the department uses a 10-year span to evaluate them. Kathy Brekke, a Winston-area resident, asked for clarification on the 55 mph sign through Winston; David clarified that by law it is enforced year-round as a school zone area, not only during the school term.
Commissioners also pressed for planning that matches growth. Commissioner Lyndsey Richtmyer suggested four lanes from Three Forks to Helena. Commissioner Jesse Swenson asked how MDT accounts for population growth when designing projects; David said Broadwater County saw “excessive growth” in 2020 that MDT could not accommodate in future plans.
Commissioner Debbie Randolph said the turnout itself mattered. “The Broadwater County Commission and MDT share the goal of improving safety throughout the county. I was happy to see that so many residents attended the Commission Meeting last week and shared their concerns with the MDT staff in attendance. MDT and the county have created a great partnership, and the lines of communication are open. I am hopeful that in 2026, there will be more meetings for public input.”
The meeting also included a discussion of a federal BUILD grant application connected to the Winston Northwest project, with MDT and partners encouraging residents and commissioners to submit personalized letters of support, noting that customized letters carry more weight than boilerplate submissions. MDT and partners, they said, can provide templates or guidance—so long as the final letters reflect why the project matters to the writer and the community.
