KALISPELL, Mont. – The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), in partnership with the City of Kalispell, Schellinger Construction, and DJ&A Engineering, have completed construction on the Reserve Drive – Hutton Ranch Road to Whitefish Stage Road project.
“This was a massive effort, and we are proud to see it come together,” John Schmidt, MDT District Administrator, said. “Construction began two seasons ago, and we’re grateful for the patience the community has shown during this time. This project represents a significant investment of time, funding, and resources in our transportation system, and it will provide lasting benefits for travelers who rely on this route.”
The project included expanding the driving surface on West Reserve Drive between Hutton Ranch Road and Whitefish Stage Road from three to five lanes, including a center turn lane and a shared-use path. The West Reserve Drive intersections with Hutton Ranch Road and Whitefish Stage Road received dedicated turn lanes, new traffic signals, and concrete surfacing.
The 2020-2021 US Census named Kalispell the fastest growing micropolitan area in the country. Traffic volumes have increased dramatically, which caused significant delays on Reserve Drive and Whitefish Stage Road.
In 2022, this project was awarded the US Department of Transportation Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) to address these traffic challenges.
In 2023, MDT and the City of Kalispell selected Schellinger Construction teamed with DJ&A to complete the recommended improvement option identified through the West Reserve Drive Corridor Planning Study. Schellinger crews started work on the project in October 2024.
This content is sourced from
Montana Department of Transportation
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