Missoula, MT – Missoula city officials announced on Friday that the Russell Street corridor project has received nearly $60 million in federal funding, marking a significant milestone in a transportation initiative that has been over three decades in the making. The grant will allow the city to complete the project, which has been in progress for nearly a decade but was only partially finished due to funding limitations.
“This federal investment means we can finally move forward on this transformative project,” said Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis in a statement. “Without the federal investment of this size, we would not be able to accomplish this important project to move people, cargo, and services safely and effectively through our community.”
The Russell Street Regional Corridor Project aims to widen Russell Street from Dakota Street south to Mount Avenue. In addition to the roadwork on Russell Street, the project also includes improvements to West Broadway between Mullan Road and Cowper Street. Altogether, the project will enhance approximately 1.5 miles of roadway.
Aaron Wilson, Missoula’s transportation planner, expressed his satisfaction with the funding. “This is a project 30 years in the making,” Wilson said. “This grant funding was essential to push it over the finish line and ensure we can complete the needed improvements.”
The Russell Street corridor was first identified as a regional priority in 1996, with the goal of improving transportation infrastructure in the area. The first phase of the project, which included improvements from West Broadway to Dakota Street and the reconstruction of the Russell Street Bridge, was completed some years ago. This phase widened the two-lane road to four lanes and added separated bike lanes, sidewalks, bus pullouts, and landscaping.
However, due to financial constraints, the second phase of the project, which was estimated to cost $40 million in 2020, remained unfinished. The current total cost of the project is now estimated at $74 million. The newly announced $60 million in federal funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will be supplemented by state gas taxes and urban funds from the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Wilson emphasized the broad benefits of the project. “It serves to benefit all modes of transportation in a generational investment in Missoula infrastructure,” he said. “It’s a lynchpin project for creating a safe, efficient, and connected transportation network.”
Bob Vosen, district administrator with the Montana Department of Transportation, acknowledged the collaborative effort behind securing the funding. “This is another great example of how teamwork can benefit all users of the regional transportation network,” Vosen said. “I thank the team from the MPO for putting together such a great application under a very tight deadline.”
With the federal funding now in place, city officials are poised to complete the long-awaited project, which will significantly improve the transportation infrastructure in Missoula and benefit residents, commuters, and businesses alike.
