Public Infrastructure

West Riverside Infrastructure: In spring 2023, Missoula County staff launched a public engagement process in the West Riverside neighborhood. The goal of this project was to provide recommendations to the commissioners from and for the neighborhood on their vision for infrastructure and to establish an agreed-upon framework by the West Riverside community for engaging in conversations and decision-making with the County in the future. The feedback from the public and the structure of the events was very successful and is now being used as a model in other rural areas of the county. Read the full report here.

Bridge maintenance and replacement: Missoula County Public Works is responsible for more than 130 bridges across our communities, from Lolo and Frenchtown to Bonner and Condon. It’s no secret that maintaining transportation infrastructure is incredibly expensive, but we are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents while reducing the cost burden of these projects. While bridges are critical to our rural residents to provide emergency services, they are also susceptible to damage from flooding and general use over time. Click here for more information on bridges the county has planned for maintenance and repairs.

Pavement management system: Missoula County worked with the City of Missoula and the Metropolitan Planning Organization to administer a pavement management system that will allow for better long-term planning and maintenance of paved roads throughout the County. You can see the annual work plan for Public Works by clicking here.

Mullan BUILD project: In 2019, Missoula County and the City of Missoula secured a $14 million federal BUILD grant to provide funding to build out the roads and other infrastructure west of Reserve Street, between Mullan Road and West Broadway. A network of complete streets to improve connectivity and provide access to 1,500 acres of developable land is being created and will increase housing stock, improve safety, reduce congestion, generate economic development and provide green spaces to connect sidewalks, trails and natural resources. The Sx͏ʷtpqyen* Area Master Plan helped establish the development plan in this area. Phase I, including a new roundabout on Mullan Road and additional roads, was completed in July 2023.

*Salish word meaning A Place Where Something Is Cut Off and Comes to a Point

Report a pothole or other maintenance: The Missoula County Road Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 452 miles of roads. Of these 452 miles, approximately 252 miles are paved, and 200 miles are gravel. The division also has maintenance responsibility for approximately 700 sumps and 465 bridges and other structures, ranging in size from the 1,024-foot Scott Street Bridge to 12-inch culverts. The Roads Division employs 22 road maintenance workers (five in Seeley Lake and 17 in Missoula), five mechanics (one in Seeley Lake and four in Missoula), one welder, seven administrative staff and three engineers. See the 2022 Annual Report from Public Works.

Buena Vista Community Wastewater System improvements: In 2021, Missoula County secured $2.3 million in federal and state grant funding to complete final updates to the Buena Vista Community wastewater system, a resident-owned community just west of the airport on U.S. Highway 10. The project was completed in 2023 and resulted in moving the sewer main and lot connections from beneath and between homes to the roadway, connecting the new main to the new lift station, connecting the entire system to City of Missoula sewer, paving the road through the community and restoring the old lagoon system by returning it to its original natural condition.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Projects: Sewer and Water

Missoula County is using ARPA funding to pay for the following sewer and water projects:

Sunset West Water System: The Sunset West system serves customers on the hill northwest of the Wye. The existing meter vault is underground and has experienced flooding in the spring. The area around the well will be regraded to route surface runoff away from the well. Piping, valves and appurtenances within the meter vault will be relocated to an above grade, insulated, pre-cast concrete structure to eliminate the potential of flooding due to surface water or groundwater. The structure will be lighted, heated and ventilated to allow operator access. In addition, accommodations will be made to allow for chlorination in the future Public Works plans to use three different sources of ARPA funding that total an estimated $383,925 to fund the proposed improvements.
Lewis and Clark Sewer – Dosing Tank Replacement: The Lewis and Clark system is located in Clinton, and the project simply replaces the existing dosing tank that is due for replacement. The estimated cost is $80,000.
Lolo Sewer and Water: The improvements in Lolo are estimated at around $8 million. The scope of the improvements includes a new 12-inch water main along Farm Lane/Lewis & Clark Drive, a 12-inch water main replacement along Glacier Drive, an 8-inch water main extension from the shopping center to Tyler Way, two new pumps and motors for Wells 1 and 2, replacement of six pressure relief valves, replacement of the existing Lift Station 1 pump, installation of a back-up lift station pump at Lift Station 1, a new force main from the Lift Station 1 to the treatment plant, replacement of the Lift Station 1 wetwell, installation of a new liner in the equalization basin, construction of a new mechanical dewatering facility, replacement of the old influent pump, replacement of two RAS pumps, modification of the existing biological process MLE, replacement of the aeration blowers, new perimeter fencing, and manhole and gravity sewer lining replacement.

ARPA Funding – Roads and Bridges: Public Works is contracting with several local engineering firms to develop 30% design plans for a range of road and bridge projects. Once the 30% design plans are complete, Public Works plans to use the plans to apply for available discretionary funding sources to pay for the remaining design and construction of the proposed projects. The following are the projects that are under development: Lolo Street Bridge (rehab), Sunset Hill Road Bridge (replacement), Boy Scout Road Bridge (replacement), Glacier Creek Road Bridge (replacement – Glacier Creek), Lothrup Bridge (rehab), Cold Creek Bridge (replacement), Swartz Creek Road Bridge (rehab), Van Buren Bridges (rail upgrades), South Avenue – 36^th to Blue Mountain (sidewalks, trail, irrigation, roadway improvements), Big Flat Road (slide repair/stabilization).

Additional parking near Sha-Ron Fishing Access: In the early summer of 2023, Missoula County, in coordination with other agencies, opened an additional parking lot near the Sha-Ron Fishing access site where river recreators can park in the summer months. This has helped with parking and safety concerns along Highway 200 in East Missoula. Learn more.