'Please be patient': Belgrade braces for $58 million in traffic projects on congested streets

BELGRADE — Three major infrastructure projects are coming to Belgrade in the next several years, including a railroad underpass on Jackrabbit Road and a roundabout at Broadway and Main streets — downtown’s main intersection.

An open house is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Wednesday in the Belgrade Library Community Room to discuss the projects. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), DOWL, Morrison Maierle, and the City of Belgrade will be leading the open house, alongside other project partners.

The projects:

• Belgrade Urban, Jackrabbit Lane from Madison Avenue to Main Street: Jackrabbit will go from a three- to five-lane road with new curbs and gutters. Sidewalks will be added to both sides of the street and the railroad underpass also will be built.

• Belgrade Intersections Improvements: A roundabout will replace the four-way stop the intersection of Main Street and Broadway; it was chosen over a stoplight.

In addition, flashing yellow arrows and retro-reflective black plates will be added to Jackrabbit Lane and Frontage Road intersections. The Amsterdam and Thorpe roads intersection will be widened to three lanes, with a new traffic signal.

• Amsterdam Road Intersection Improvements: Amsterdam Road will be widened to three lanes west of Thorpe Road. Amsterdam Road and Green Belt Drive will gain left turn lanes, and a traffic signal will be installed at Amsterdam Road and River Rock Road. Right turn lanes will be reconstructed.

• Two smaller projects: the Safety Action Plan and Cruiser Intersection Improvements are City of Belgrade projects and are not being managed by DOWL or MDT. Cruiser Intersection Improvements will be making updates to the Dry Creek Road, Cruiser Lane, and Spooner Road intersections. It’s expected to be completed in fall 2027. Planning for the Safety Action Plan has been completed, but the MDT does not have an anticipated start date for it.

The Belgrade Intersection Improvements and the Amsterdam Road Intersection Improvements projects are anticipated to start in spring 2028. And the Belgrade Urban project will likely start construction in winter of 2028.

The total cost will be almost $58 million.

The most expensive project is Belgrade Urban, with a total cost of $48 million. About 52% of this money comes from grant funding and 40% from federal funding. The remaining $4 million is thanks to state and local funding.

The Amsterdam Road Intersection Improvements project will cost $1.67 million, and the Belgrade Intersection Improvements project will cost $7.98 million.

Justin Yahnig is senior vice president of Flanagan State Bank in Belgrade, located at 11 W Main Street. As part of the Belgrade Intersection Improvements project, the new roundabout will be constructed at the four-way stop outside the bank.

“We’ve seen a whole lot of people stop there and just have trouble navigating it,” Yahnig said of the four-way stop.

Yahnig mentioned that the cost of living is high in the Gallatin Valley, making Belgrade a more affordable option. He wants it to become a place for people to visit, like Bozeman.

“There’s a lot of traffic, especially in the mornings and evenings as Belgrade continues to grow and develop,” he said. “Overall, I think it would help traffic flow quite a bit.”

Some of these projects have been a long time coming. Belgrade Mayor Mike Meis said the Jackrabbit Road improvements and the railroad underpass have been discussed for at least 20 years.

He said one of Belgrade’s main concerns has been the increase in traffic and the way it’s impacting certain roads and intersections.

“You want to be able to have traffic flow efficiently and safely,” Meis said.

He said he hopes temporary roads will be built or intersections won’t be entirely closed so traffic flows easier during construction.

“Traffic won’t be improved until we can get these construction projects done, so please be patient,” Meis asks of drivers. “Please be safe while the construction is happening. Traffic is probably going to get worse until it gets better.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to be a good partner with (MDT)”.