RED LODGE, MT — A major project on Highway 212, known as the Beartooth Highway, at mile marker 57.7 has drawn concerns from local residents, particularly over the lack of transparency, escalating costs, and potential environmental impacts. The project, which began as a response to the severe flooding in 2022, involves the removal of dirt and rock and aims to stabilize the area for future flood prevention. However, as crews continue their work, many in the community are questioning the details of the project and its long-term effects.
According to Charity Burns, a Public Information Officer for the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), the project is a follow-up to last year’s road relocation, which moved the highway away from a vulnerable embankment. The latest phase seeks to “soften the slope” to make the area safer for future flooding events. By modifying the slope, MDT intends to allow equipment to safely access Rock Creek for the placement of rip-wrap, a material designed to protect the creek banks from further erosion.
Despite the project’s aims of improving infrastructure, some residents are raising red flags. David Arthun, a Joliet-based scientist, has expressed significant concerns over the environmental implications of rip-wrap, arguing that it could disrupt the natural flow of the creek and cause downstream issues. “When you rip-wrap, it’s going to mess up the channel,” Arthun said. “It’s going to compensate it for it downstream.”
Arthun’s concerns extend beyond the environmental impact. He also worries about the increased truck traffic through Red Lodge, as the dirt needed for the project is hauled through the town. “Traffic, especially during the tourist season, is already a challenge,” Arthun noted. “This could potentially disrupt tourism and create more congestion.”
The financial cost of the project has also sparked confusion and frustration. Initially estimated at $5.9 million, the project has seen multiple changes, ballooning to over $28 million in total. The current phase, which focuses on the rip-wrap installation and slope modification, is expected to cost more than $3 million. Former MDT biologist Susan Lenard, who resigned from the agency three weeks ago, has voiced concerns over the project’s lack of transparency. “The lack of transparency with public funds on public land should have been clear to anyone interested,” Lenard stated. “I don’t see any record of public meetings, and many people in Red Lodge are unaware of what’s going on.”
Lenard’s resignation was partially due to her frustration with the department’s handling of the project. She believes that MDT officials were more focused on justifying the proposed design rather than clearly communicating the rationale behind it. “It didn’t make sense, and it seemed like they were forcing the issue,” she said.
MDT has declined to comment on Lenard’s resignation but maintains that the project has been carefully managed with input from environmental professionals. “We have professionals who work at MDT and stand behind their work,” said Burns. “We double-check what the consultants are providing to us.”
However, for Arthun and Lenard, these reassurances have not been enough to quell their concerns. Both feel that MDT has not been forthcoming with the public and that important details about the project remain unclear. “In my opinion, they were not straightforward with just giving an answer,” Arthun said.
As construction on the Beartooth Highway continues, the community remains divided over the project’s necessity and execution. While the need for road repairs and flood prevention is recognized, many in Red Lodge are calling for more open communication and transparency about the project’s true scope, environmental impact, and ever-growing costs.
For now, residents are left with more questions than answers as they watch the project unfold.
