Broadwater Commissioners Press MDT on Highway 12/287 Safety, Approve Motor Vehicle Agreement
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter
Broadwater Commissioners Press MDT on Highway 12/287 Safety, Approve Motor Vehicle Agreement
Rachael Brug
Staff Reporter
At their November meeting, the Broadwater County Commission heard emotional testimony about safety on Highway 12/287 and moved ahead with a key agreement to keep local motor vehicle services in place.
Resident Dwight Thompson urged the commission to push harder for improvements from the Missouri River bridge north to Winston, especially at the Silos interchange, where a recent fatal crash claimed the life of his co‑worker. Thompson cited a recent TV report by Marian Davidson and questioned why a state traffic engineer, Gabe Priebe, said he had not heard from county officials.
Commissioner Debbie Randolph responded that the county has been in regular contact with Montana Department of Transportation, including emails, phone calls, and meetings. She said MDT already plans to widen Highway 12 south of the Silos to five lanes and add turn lanes at Beaver Creek near Winston. The county is also applying for a major federal BUILDER grant to accelerate work from Winston north toward Spokane Creek, with a public meeting planned once the latest crash analysis is complete.
Resident Melissa Franks, who lives off White Horse, described nightly near-misses as drivers pass turning vehicles instead of slowing down. She called for increased law enforcement presence until construction changes are made. Commissioners added that headlights and seatbelts remain basic but often ignored safety measures.
In other business, Treasurer Melissa Franks secured approval for an interlocal agreement with the Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division for the state’s new CARS system. The deal shifts equipment and supply costs to the county in exchange for a 10‑cent-per-transaction reimbursement, but commissioners agreed the arrangement is necessary to avoid forcing residents to travel to Helena or Bozeman for all motor vehicle services.
The board also took testimony on a road-material deviation request in the Westside Trails subdivision and postponed a decision to review technical data and potential impacts on county standards.
