For immediate release: April 3, 2025
Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
Cell: 406-595-8963
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov
Gallatin County Moves Forward with Old Town Bridge Project
Gallatin County has taken a significant step forward in the Old Town Bridge project to help replace two bridges on Old Town Road that span the Jefferson River near Three Forks.
The county signed onto a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) last month. Gallatin County is now awaiting the final executed document with signatures from SHPO and the Army Corps, which is expected this week. This agreement has been in negotiation for many months, and Gallatin County has been unable to go out to bid until all required federal permits are secured.
The bridge located on Old Town Road East was closed to traffic in June 2022 after an inspection identified significant safety issues with the structure. This closure resulted in a 10-mile detour and has forced emergency services to reroute, causing considerable delays in service. The bridge located on Old Town Road West, located approximately one-quarter mile west of this structure, currently has a 7-ton load limit. Due to the significant population increases in both Gallatin and Broadwater Counties, Old Town Road and the two bridges continue to be vital infrastructure for the region.
Gallatin and Broadwater counties have been collaborating and finding funding to replace the bridges. Both received grants from the Montana Coal Endowment Program and matching funds from the Montana Department of Transportation.
With this key milestone nearly complete, Gallatin County is preparing for the next steps in the project. The anticipated schedule is as follows:
- Advertisement of the project: April 5, 12, and 19
- Preconstruction meeting for interested contractors: Week of April 14
- Bid opening: Tuesday, April 29 at 9 AM
- Recommendation of award and Notice of Award to the Commission for approval: May 6 Commission meeting
Once a contractor is selected, Gallatin County aims to mobilize construction as quickly as possible. Construction for both bridges will be bid and constructed under one contract in an effort to reduce costs.
The Gallatin County Commission acknowledges the frustrations of Old Town residents about the bridge closure and is committed to addressing the significant inconveniences and threats to public health and safety that have resulted from the closure.
“We understand the immense frustration and hardship this bridge closure has caused for Old Town residents,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “We share their urgency in getting this project completed, and while the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and SHPO has been beyond our control, we have done everything in our power to push this forward. Now that we are on the brink of breaking ground, we are fully committed to seeing this project through as quickly as possible.”
For more information, including a project timeline and history, please visit Old Town Bridge project website.
Stahly Engineering has led this project through design and permitting stages, after being selected by the county through a competitive procurement process. The next phase will be led by a contractor who will implement physical construction of the bridges. This contractor will be selected through a competitive bidding process to take place in April and May, according to the planned timeline outlined above.
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