Long-Term Highway Bill Provides Support for Critical Missoula Infrastructure Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines hailed last week’s passage of a multi-year highway bill, noting that the bipartisan legislation provides critical support for more than 420 infrastructure projects across Montana. The bill allocates more than $2.2 billion to Montana projects, which were at risk without long-term federal support.

Daines emphasized the importance of this bill to the Missoula region, which will receive support for numerous projects including:

• Reconstruction and maintenance on I-90, US-93, US-12 and MT-200

• Reconstruction on Orange St. interchange and Van Buren St. interchange (Missoula)

• Reconstruction on Russell St. (Missoula)

• Reconstruction on US-93 in Ronan

• Reconstruction on S-203 north of Stevensville

• $9.3M for metropolitan planning and additional formula dollars for public transportation

• Montana receives a 15 percent increase for the Recreational Trails Program, $1.6 million each year

Additionally, the highway bill will provide Montana:

• $127.7 million for Highway Safety Improvement over five years

• $9.9 million for Railway-Highway crossing safety enhancements over five years

• Montana has more than 74,000 miles of public roads

• 46 percent of Montana’s major roads are in poor to mediocre condition

• Poor highways cost Montana motorists approximately $484 per year in additional vehicle maintenance

• Expands funding available for maintenance and repair of bridges off of the National Highway System (NHS)

• Montana has 5,141 bridges on our public roadways, 914 are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Only 216 are on the National Highway System.  The other 698 will now have greater access to federal funds for repairs.

“This five-year highway bill provides Missoula with the certainty needed to make long-term infrastructure investments,” Daines stated. “The long-term funding bill will help start and complete construction on critical projects that support the region’s economic health and will create more good-paying jobs for Missoula. I am proud to support this important bipartisan legislation that provides real results for our communities and our state.”

 The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act is a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. The FAST Act is the longest-term highway bill in 17 years. The bill passed both the House and Senate by overwhelming bipartisan margins on Dec. 3. The President signed the bill into law Dec. 4.