‘Crash trend’ drives Batavia Lane highway project

The Montana Department of Transportation has its sights set on the crash-prone intersection of Batavia Lane and U.S. 2 West for a project to improve safety and traffic flow.

“The risk for severe crashes at Batavia Lane and Highway 2 West is high,” according to a flier circulated for an open house Tuesday at Smith Valley School.

Roughly 6,000 cars travel on U.S. 2 every day, and 2,000 travel on Batavia Lane, highway officials stated at the open house. There are also approximately 82 pedestrian crossings at the intersection every day, and many of these are school students from Smith Valley School.

The intersection is also complicated by the neighborhood gas station Kelly Rae’s on the northeast corner of the intersection, the high number of large trucks that use U.S. 2 and the multi-use trail along the highway.

According to state statistics from 2005 to 2017, 67% of the collisions at this intersection occurred during daylight, and 94% took place with dry roadway conditions. Even more concerning, 50% of the crashes were right-angle collisions, which Bob Vosen, district administrator for the Missoula District of the Department of Transportation, said “have a high potential of being severe.”

The peak crash times also correlate with the start and end of the school day. However, even though there have been multiple close calls, no pedestrians have been hit at this intersection.

But the state doesn’t want to wait until tragedy strikes to address this dangerous trend.

“We have to figure out the best way to address the crash trend we have,” Vosen insisted.

Vosen and his colleagues used the open house to gather public input on potential solutions. Community members were out in force to learn about the project and share their perspectives. Thirty minutes into the event, more than 50 people had already come through the Smith Valley School gymnasium.

The Department of Transportation has had multiple other conversations and focus-group meetings with truck drivers, local industry leaders, school representatives and other community members to gather feedback on the intersection.

“It’s important for us to have these conversations to know how the community is thinking,” said John Schmidt, MDT district construction engineer.

Attendees shared their top priorities for intersection improvements and suggestions on ways to redesign the intersection. Children’s safety and traffic flow were identified as some of the top concerns. Suggestions for the redesign ranged from installing a stoplight to rerouting the highway to the east and designating the current roadway as a frontage road. A lot of feedback also centered on opposition to building a roundabout at the intersection.

Highway officials emphasized the project is still in its very early phases and no budget has been put forth yet. “Everything is still on the table,” Schmidt said.

Vosen said the state might narrow the options down to three to five ideas later in the summer, which would be brought back to the public for feedback. He estimated a final plan could be ready by winter 2020.

He also clarified that although a 2016 MDT traffic study identified a roundabout as the best potential solution for the crash trend there, the state has backed off of this course of action after receiving a considerable amount of public backlash on the idea.

“We’ve stepped back from that,” Schmidt said.

However, a roundabout would be fully funded by federal Highway Safety Grant funds, whereas other potential redesigns might require state funding.

Robert Peccia & Associates is the consultant for the project. The firm also was the consultant on the Dern Road and Springcreek Road project on U.S. 2 that will result in a new roundabout.

“I really feel a roundabout isn’t the best solution,” said Phyllis Carr, who lives on Batavia Lane. She said she hoped MDT would install a stoplight at the intersection. With a stoplight, she said, “You just feel safer.”

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.