Highway 284 to Receive Overlay
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Highway 284 to Receive Overlay
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Highway 284 has been in bad shape for years.
The Montana State Highway Department (MDOT) has repeatedly filled the cracks. Broadwater County Commissioners have received an agreement for the highway department to chip and seal the highway from the flashing light where the highway meets Highway 12 East to the Broadwater County border on the east side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The two-lane state highway is 26.5 miles long.
Public Works Supervisor TJ Graveley presented a construction agreement to finally repair the roadway cracks with a filler, referred to as MASTEK. The agreement with MDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and Broadwater County was approved by the Commissioners at their regular meeting on January 24. The agreement will include crack repair, chip and seal overlay, and replacement of delineators and signage. The time frame for the job to start is this spring or summer.
“The road base is good,” according to Graveley,” so the chip seal should last another 10 to 15 years.”
Bids will be left for the Old Town Bridge West replacement as the commissioners voted to approve accepting a $750,000 grant for a contract from the Montana Department of Commerce Coal Endowment Program. The board also approved payment for Old Town West beams to Rinker Materials of Atlanta, Georgia for $329,904. Both Old Town Bridges are located in Gallatin County. Broadwater agreed to partner with Gallatin to replace the bridges because access to Broadwater County residents is critical to safety.
Commissioners reappointed several people to county boards including Steven McCullough and Al Christopherson to the Broadwater Trust Board, Victor Sample to the Broadband Advisory Board and Robert Bargatze to the Airport Board. Adam Six resigned from his position with the Broadband Advisory Board.
Commissioners also appointed a fifth member to a three-year term on the Solid Waste Board. Supervisor Graveley presented a letter of interest from Doug Jones who works in Bozeman and lives on Highway 284. Jones will serve in the position temporarily held by Commissioner Lindsey Richtmyer.
During public comment, Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser gave a detailed description of a two-car accident near Winston on January 18 which involved a patrol car. He said he would be needing a new patrol car since the patrol unit was hit head-on by the driver in the second car. The deputy sustained minor injuries. The other driver died in the accident.
